ESPN Report Debunks Rumor About Sean McVay Not Approving Ty Simpson Pick

By far the biggest surprise of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was the Los Angeles Rams using the 13th overall pick to take Alabama QB Ty Simpson. In his first press conference after the move, Rams head coach Sean McVay didn't seem like himself, which instantly sparked rumors that he was against the move.

But according to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the speculation is all nonsense. Fowler quoted sources who told him that McVay "absolutely" backed the team's decision to take Simpson, and actually tried to suppress McVay from accidentally leaking their plans to the public.

"Multiple team sources said they believe McVay might have felt the need to downplay the pick in order to accentuate his confidence in Stafford," Fowler wrote.

"'He will be cautious and protective of Matt, and rightfully so,' a team source said. 'I think Sean is excited for the pick. The appreciation for the tape was the biggest thing.'

"A source with direct knowledge of the situation put it more bluntly: McVay 'absolutely' was on board with the pick, noting that Snead and McVay attack all decisions together,

"'All indications to me were they were in lockstep,' a separate team source said."

NFL fans and Rams fans in particular might accuse the Rams of trying to close ranks and play defense for how the decision may have looked to the public, but right now they're doing and saying all of the right things to endorse Simpson as their QB of the future.

Simpson and Stafford

The consensus around Simpson as a pre-draft prospect was that he was probably a Day 2 selection with the potential to develop into a starter if given the right situation and pieces to develop. By going to the Rams, he gets exactly that. The only real difference is the Rams grabbed him about 10-20 picks higher than they probably needed to.

But since the Rams were clearly completely sold on the guy, they must not have felt the need to min/max their value with that No. 13 overall pick.

Simpson will now spend the 2026 season sitting behind incumbent starter Matthew Stafford, who is 38 years old and widely believed to be heading into the final year or two of his career. He's under contract through the end of this season but after that nobody know that the future holds.

Even so, Rams fans are going to need a big season out of Stafford and the rest of the team to get over their anger from an apparent missed opportunity to win a title now.

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 12:56 PM.