The NFC West is rampant with divisional contenders between the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. Sometimes, too, the Arizona Cardinals. So when the draft rolls around, each divisional rival always likes to see what their competition has done to better themselves ahead of the next season.
So when John Lynch was asked about the Rams’ decision to draft Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick, the 49ers general manager couldn’t immediately hold back his feelings. He smiled widely before quickly composing himself and answering the question posed to him by a reporter about the Rams adding a player who “isn’t going to immediately impact them next year.”
“Ty Simpson’s a good football player,” Lynch said. “I think there was a lot made as to where he would go and what teams would do. It probably surprised everybody. But one thing I’ve learned over the years is that with quarterbacks, people will do those types of things. And they certainly did. So, we’ll see.”
Now, Lynch has been in the Rams’ shoes before. He drafted Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in 2021 with the plan to sit him behind Jimmy Garoppolo for at least one season — much like the Rams plan with Simpson and Matthew Stafford. However, Lynch got lucky in that he also drafted Brock Purdy that year, who eventually took on the mantle.
The benefit for the 49ers, though, is that they won’t have to worry about a new first-round addition to the Rams’ roster. That doesn’t mean L.A. won’t add quality players who can impact the team in the rest of the draft.
And, for what it’s worth, the Cardinals and Seahawks both added starting-caliber running backs with their first-round picks.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers GM had the funniest reaction to the Rams taking Ty Simpson
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
