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By Megan Armstrong
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The Los Angeles Rams drafted Ohio State tight end Max Klare (No. 61 overall) and Missouri offensive tackle Keagan Trost (No. 93 overall) on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday night.
But everyone is still stuck on the Rams' puzzling decision to use their No. 13 overall pick on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson during the first round on Thursday night.
Once the first round ended, Rams head coach Sean McVay and Rams general manager Les Snead met with the media. McVay's uncharacteristically quiet demeanor when discussing Simpson went viral. It was widely interpreted as McVay not being happy about using such a high draft pick on a quarterback when the Rams still employ reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.
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McVay addressed that to begin his and Snead's Day 2 draft presser.
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"What do you guys think? Am I angry right now?" McVay joked before flashing a smile. "I will say this, though, the one thing would never be doubted is we couldn't be in more lockstep in every decision that we make. I get my demeanor last night,[...] but we're excited about it."
McVay added:
"You always want to be mindful of how things come off, things like that, [but] very excited about last night, very excited about today. I couldn't be more excited us continuing to lead together. But every decision that we make is collective and collaborative.
And so, for any of the questions or misunderstandings just based on my demeanor and disposition last night, I did want to get that out of the way. This is my buddy right here."
McVay said it was as simple as "sometimes I can be a little grumpy," and one reporter restored faith in journalists everywhere by asking the follow-up question, "Why were you grumpy?"
McVay said some of it was unrelated things having to do with "normal life," but then said, "The main thing was, I think, I couldn't be more excited about being able to add [Simpson], but also understanding how much I love Matthew Stafford — how respectful you want to always be to just the way things can be interpreted."
McVay also emphasized that Stafford, 38, will remain the Rams QB1 until further notice: "Whenever that time comes for [Simpson] to get an opportunity to be Matthew's successor will be on Matthew's terms."
Make of all that what you will.
During the NFL Network's draft broadcast Friday night, Ian Rapoport reported that the Rams are "close on a contract extension" with Stafford because "they do believe he can play more than this season."
Stafford announced his plan to return to the Rams for the 2026 season during his NFL MVP acceptance speech in February.
Simpson was a polarizing prospect before he entered the Rams fray.
Simpson spent three years as a backup for the Alabama Crimson Tide before winning the QB1 job last August. He started 15 games last season and was inconsistent, some of which wasn't his fault. He exited the Rose Bowl, his final collegiate game, with a cracked rib, and he reportedly struggled with "a severe case of gastritis," per Tom Pelissero.
The good news for Simpson is that he has a long runway to develop under McVay and Stafford before having to step in as the next face of the franchise.
The bad news for the Rams, the most win-now team in the NFL, is that Simpson will do nothing to help their Super Bowl chances right now.
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