Rams can't escape criticism as college coaches question Ty Simpson draft pick

The Los Angeles Rams flipped the first round of the NFL Draft on its head, selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Weeks later, many analysts still can't get over just how surprising the move was.

While Simpson shows promise, he likely won't make an impact for the Rams in the near future. For a team in the middle of a Super Bowl push, that raises some questions. Still, was any rookie destined to move the needle in 2026? Many say no.

But the criticism isn't just coming from analysts. College coaches who went up against Simpson are questioning the pick, too. In an article from ESPN, multiple SEC defensive coordinators shared quotes detailing their surprise.

SEC coaches criticize Rams' Ty Simpson draft pick

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg recently dropped an article with (mostly) anonymous reactions from college football coaches on draft night. While some selections received encouraging reviews, feelings about the Simpson pick were mixed.

Per Rittenberg, one SEC defensive coordinator said, "For him to go that high, I was a little bit like, 'Wow, OK. I don't know how he practices; I don't know his mind. They were saying he was banged up in the back stretch, but he was just OK. Maybe he has those qualities that you can't coach that some of these [NFL teams] fell in love with."

Another coordinator was even more direct, saying, "He's not ready to go be a starter in the NFL right now; he's got work to do."

These aren't just your average college football fans or analysts. These are coaches who faced off with Simson when he was at Alabama. They would have studied his film leading up to matchups, dissecting the strengths and weaknesses of his game. While they likely weren't watching him with the draft in mind, they know his talent as well as anybody. Clearly, they didn't think that he should have been drafted as early as he was.

Their critiques are warranted, as Simpson has clear weaknesses in his profile. He doesn't have the size or experience of most first-round quarterbacks.

At the end of the day, the success of the selection will be determined by how the young QB plays when he gets his chance. If Simpson helps lead a seamless transition out of the Matthew Stafford era, nobody will question the choice to draft him at No. 13. But he's under the microscope long before he sets foot on an NFL field. If the Rams can't reach their goals this year and in the near future, the criticism will only get louder.

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