Now that we are far removed from the draft, it’s time to look at the Ty Simpson selection with clearer eyes. The Los Angeles Rams used the 13th overall selection to add the former Alabama quarterback, opting out of choosing a player who could see the field in Week 1.
My opinion has been and will remain that the roster is not deep enough to add Simpson, and it might come back to haunt the Rams. I also recognize Simpson will likely be a quality backup as a rookie, a need for the Rams, and that the duo of Sean McVay and Les Snead are Super Bowl winners. They know what they’re doing.
But let’s talk about Simpson. If one could design a quarterback better suited for the Rams, it would be quite a feat because Simpson embodies the hallmarks of the organization. Positive, team-oriented, passionate, hard worker, coachable, controls the controllables. All those pillars that define the culture McVay has cultivated, Simpson exemplifies.
He’s the son of a coach, so his work ethic is unquestionable, and his study habits are sound. Simpson has zero problem waiting his turn, doing so behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe at Alabama instead of transferring out. Also, Simpson covered up a lot of issues with the Alabama offense. This isn’t Nick Saban’s Alabama, and that offensive line did not perform. Neither did star receiver Ryan Williams. Simpson had to deal with a lot.
Despite that, Simpson still carried the Crimson Tide into the College Football Playoff and defeated a talented Oklahoma squad that was led by their defensive ideology. Simpson did so during a very cold winter night in Norman. He’s built for the moment.
I don’t know how his game will translate in the NFL, but it’s easy to see why Snead spent a premium pick on him. He’s also the best backup the Rams could’ve added. Once he learns the playbook and gets comfortable with the rhythm of the offense, Simpson’s floor is high, and his expectations far exceed any that Jimmy Garoppolo or another veteran backup could’ve brought.
With an aging Stafford, who dealt with back issues last season, the Rams can ill-afford to waste a year with this level of talent if Stafford were to go down. Perhaps Simpson is McVay’s insurance policy. McVay can scheme him up just enough for his loaded defense to win with. Simpson’s smart and he’ll protect the football, making him a perfect fit.
Only McVay knows exactly what he needs. This is a pick that legacies live and die on. McVay and Snead took their shot. It’s a brazen move that mimics the courage the Rams had to go all in for 2021. Look how that worked out.
Perhaps, “F them picks” has taken on a new meaning.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Why Ty Simpson is the ultimate Rams selection
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
