Los Angeles Rams made selection of quarterback Ty Simpson to thunderous silence from Sean McVay, and everyone took notice

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead stunned the NFL by selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, and Sean McVay didn’t look thrilled.

AJ Schulte — College Football Trending News Writer
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Sean McVay and Les Snead following the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
Sean McVay and Les Snead following the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft Gary Klein-Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Rams stunned the football world in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, making the biggest reach of the first round by selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

General manager Les Snead was quick to defend the pick tonight.

“He’s still becoming, but I would say the journey that he’s had, I think the thing you appreciate is persevering … the perseverance that you have when you go through, right, let’s call it hard things”

However, it wasn’t Snead that stole the show. Instead, it was Sean McVay. Or rather, the lack of Sean McVay.

Sean McVay’s silence spoke volumes

Normally, McVay and Snead’s press conferences are light-hearted and jovial. Sean McVay is a happy guy and usually cracks smiles and jokes all throughout the press conference. Even after a tough loss, he’s usually upbeat and trying to find the positives.

Not tonight. McVay sat through the Rams’ post-pick press conference mostly stonefaced and did not answer many questions. His lack of his normal peppiness was noticed by…pretty much everyone covering the press conference.

I’ve been around the Rams since McVay was hired as the head coach, and I can safely say I’ve never seen him act like this. Even when they lost the Super Bowl in 2018, he wasn’t as down as he looked tonight. It was eerily reminiscent of the time McVay looked like he was close to burning out and contemplated retirement.

It’s worth noting here that Les Snead is good friends with Ty Simpson’s dad. In fact, Snead told Simpson he was a first-round quarterback when he was contemplating declaring, even when many others were skeptical. Simpson’s dad coached Dresser Winn, who has been a reoccurring presence on the Rams’ roster despite never taking a snap in the preseason, and was Dane Brugler’s 68th-ranked quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft.

It sure sounds like one man made the pick without consulting the other. The silence was loud.

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