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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/MembershipSingle7137 on 2026-04-24 17:24:29+00:00.
“While only McVay can explain his disposition in that moment, he was not projecting the customary excitement for one of the biggest nights on the NFL calendar.
Multiple team sources said they believe McVay might have felt the need to downplay the pick in order to accentuate his confidence in Stafford.
“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.”
(…)
“Neither Snead nor McVay formally talked with Simpson throughout the process, Simpson confirmed Thursday night after the selection. “I met with some scouts in Alabama and that was really it,” Simpson said.
(…)
“the Rams were highly motivated to keep their intentions quiet – largely because of the presence of McVay, one of the game’s great offensive minds. The franchise picked Jared Goff first overall the year before McVay arrived, but in nine years, he hadn’t drafted a quarterback higher than 128th overall (current backup Stetson Bennett, a 2023 pick).
“[The Rams brass] knew that if it got out that McVay stamped this guy, that could have created more interest ahead of them,” a team source said.”
“The Rams were very aware of this dynamic, as multiple sources pointed out, one of whom compared it to a two-star recruit getting an offer from Alabama or Ohio State, effectively making him a five-star.
While the Rams always try to mute their plans, they found that process magnified when it came to the quarterback position over the past two months.”
(…)
“Scouts were aware of Snead’s connection with Simpson’s father, Jason, the head coach at University of Tennessee-Martin. Snead referenced Thursday night that he and Jason Simpson played Southeastern Conference football around the same time and “don’t have a real relationship” other than through football connections. But Snead confirmed the Simpson family consulted him for advice about whether to enter the draft after the 2025 season, citing the Rams’ role in the College Advisory Committee to help players with the decision-making process. In those talks, Snead relayed to the family that Simpson is a first-round-caliber player.”
“Scouts were aware of this but still didn’t believe the Rams would pick a QB at No. 13. In fact, multiple high-ranking NFL personnel evaluators with rival teams, as of Wednesday night, thought Simpson might slide to the second round due to a supply-and-demand issue. In their minds, Arizona, which picked third and 34th in the first two rounds, was the logical home for Simpson.
"They are on the door of a championship,’ said an AFC scout of the Rams. “I can’t imagine they aren’t going to help Stafford when he still has good years left.”
(…)
“While multiple sources confirm USC receiver Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix for the Rams at 13**,** not much drama followed the decision. "There wasn’t much debate – if Simpson was there, they were taking him," said a personnel source**,** going as far as to say Simpson compared favorably to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza in parts of the building. “Not a lot of separation,” the source said.”
**“**Snead and his scouts value what they call a 'central nervous system’ in a quarterback, the ability to process information and run an NFL offense as intended. The Rams noticed that early in the process with Simpson. Around late February or early March is when McVay and the team’s coaches dove deep into studying prospects.”
“The Rams looked at the Simpson selection as a ‘bonus pick,’ per a team source (…) The uncertainty around Jimmy Garoppolo’s future played a role, too. The team knew in March that retirement was a possibility for Garoppolo, a free agent, effectively leaving Los Angeles without its steady backup. During free agency, a source says the Rams made overtures to sign free agent quarterback Joe Flacco, who ultimately returned to Cincinnati on a one-year deal.”
“The Rams called Stafford the day of the draft to inform him they were selecting Simpson, according to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter. McVay said Stafford handled the news “great” because he’s a “stud” and "always first class in every sense of the word (…) Stafford is, by all accounts, happy with his skill players on offense, per a team source, which can alleviate the pressure of taking a big swing on a quarterback who won’t help the team now.”