NFL executives address how Rams' Sean McVay reacted to controversial Ty Simpson draft decision

The topic of whether or not the Los Angeles Rams should have made Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson the 13th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft generated plenty of discussions on Friday morning sports-talk programs.  

Multiple NFL executives made it known that they "loved the idea of pairing Simpson with Rams coach Sean McVay." However, some social-media users suggested that McVay looked less-than-thrilled while speaking with reporters about the Simpson pick on Thursday night. 

For a piece published on Friday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US reached out to league executives about how McVay looked and sounded during that particular news conference. It seems some league insiders believe McVay wishes the club had gone in a different direction. 

Did Sean McVay see a ghost upon hearing Ty Simpson's name?

"Dude, Sean looked like he saw a ghost," one executive told La Canfora. "You've gotta check it out. ...I don’t know what went on there, but Sean looked p-----."

McVay was sure to make it "clear" on Thursday that the Los Angeles offense still belongs to starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. While Stafford will turn 39 years old next winter, he may soon sign a contract extension that presumably could keep him atop the club's depth chart through at least the 2027 season. 

Could Rams have gotten Ty Simpson later in the draft? 

As recently as Thursday afternoon, multiple reporters and analysts said that they thought Simpson could fall all the way to the draft's second round. Thus, it's possible the Rams could have collected another asset by moving down the draft order to a pick where Simpson still would have been on the board.

"I don’t get it at all," one general manager told La Canfora about the Rams grabbing Simpson when they did. "Doesn’t add up... They couldn’t move down three or five (spots) or whatever and take him there? And at least pick up some extra picks? Totally shocked."

Perhaps Rams general manager Les Snead feared that the Arizona Cardinals or a different team was planning to eventually leapfrog Los Angeles in the draft order to select Simpson. What's done is done, and Simpson will now have Stafford as a mentor through at least January 2027.