Thursday night was supposed to be one of joy and merriment for the Rams.
Armed with arguably the best roster in football and viewed as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, having the 13th overall pick in the NFL draft presented LA with a unique opportunity.
They had the ability to draft an instant impact player, one who could bolster their case of ending the upcoming season with confetti falling around them at SoFi Stadium while holding the Lombardi Trophy.
Apparently, general manager Les Snead had other ideas.
In what was by far the most shocking move of the NFL draft, the Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson — a player many analysts considered a second-round pick.
While the move was confounding at best, Snead tried his best to sound optimistic when speaking with the media late Thursday night.
“I think it’s been a process that started in the offseason, per se, especially when [head coach] Sean [McVay] and the coaching staff got involved,” Snead said when asked when they knew Alabama QB Ty Simpson was their selection. “That process goes all the way up until even into the latter parts of last week. Then at that point in time, like I’ve mentioned here, the sea is going to shape the 13th pick you. You had to fall.”
However, one person didn’t appear as optimistic as Snead: head coach Sean McVay.
In a video that’s now gone viral, McVay showed shockingly little enthusiasm when discussing Simpson. He seemed annoyed for most of the press conference, rarely smiling and lacking the normal zeal and passion he usually speaks with.
But, there was one thing McVay made sure everyone in attendance knew: this is still reigning MVP Matthew Stafford’s team.
“There were a lot of players that we liked but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is…let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team.
Time will tell if Simpson was the correct choice — but if anything is assumed as of now — it’s that not everyone is a believer.