NFL Draft 2026: How Ty Simpson, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams produced the surprise of the night
Sky Sports NFL's Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold react to the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, including the dramatic picks of Ty Simpson and Makai Lemon; watch Day Two of the Draft from midnight on Friday live on Sky Sports, before Day Three begins at 5pm on Saturday.
Friday 24 April 2026 18:06, UK
The NFL Draft is never shy of a surprise or two. On Thursday night, the biggest might have been Ty Simpson.
The Alabama quarterback had been subject to polarising projections heading into the week; some analysts deemed him a late first-round pick, while others questioned whether he would fall into the first round at all.
In the end, most were wrong as Simpson was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 13th overall pick.
Cue debate, cue division and cue a subdued, less-than-usually-animated head coach Sean McVay. Perhaps he was just tired?
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"I can't use the words in the podcast, but basically, are you kidding me?" said Sky Sports NFL's Jeff Reinebold on Inside the Huddle. "I think that Sean McVay might have been a little surprised that they took Ty Simpson right here.
"It really knocked me for a loop to be honest. I spent the rest of the draft trying to figure this one out. I'm thinking, OK, Matthew Stafford, two more years, and then you've got a transition plan in place.
"There is six games of good film and nine games of not so good film.
"I looked at Makai Lemon and said, 'that's a perfect fit'. You got a receiver in rehab (Puka Nacua), you can never get enough good receivers, you got another one that's over at the end of his career in Davante Adams.
"But they felt like Ty Simpson fitted, checked enough boxes for them to make that commitment to him long term."
Simpson joins a quarterback room headed up by Matthew Stafford, who is 38 years old but coming off an MVP-winning campaign in which he was a game from reaching the Super Bowl.
Having sat behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe for the Crimson Tide, Simpson started just one season at college and finished 305 of 473 passing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns to five interceptions across 15 starts.
A season of two halves saw him struggle down the stretch as he tossed seven scores to four interceptions amid question marks over his Draft prospects.
"I'm a big, big, big, big believer in body language," said Reinebold. "And Sean McVay, you know how gregarious, how positive he is, and that was not the guy who stepped to the podium to talk about Ty Simpson."
Stetson Bennett remains part of the Rams quarterback options having been drafted in the third round out of Georgia back in 2023. Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is meanwhile said to be contemplating retirement.
"Stetson Bennett is kind of the same guy that Ty Simpson is," said Reinebold. "They're guys that didn't play a bunch in college.
"They're guys that are accurate, they're guys that have good mechanics but they're not going to wow you with their arm or their physical gifts. I'm thinking if you're going to take one take one that's different."
'Lemon will be hero in Philadelphia'
USC wide receiver Lemon would deliver one of the other moments of drama on the night when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles at 20th overall.
Lemon had been on the phone to the Pittsburgh Steelers seemingly primed to fall to them at No 21, only for Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman to trade up to 20th in the meantime to snatch him from the grasps of Mike McCarthy's side.
The pick came amid recent speculation that AJ Brown could be traded to the New England Patriots after June 1.
"That was Howie, man, just the guy. I don't want to say genius because that's too strong, but that guy is incredible," said Reinebold.
"So what's floating around right before the draft? A.J. Brown, after June 1. So long. We got younger, cheaper, faster and and he is going to come in with a better attitude, a guy that wants to be there.
"He'll be a hero there. Absolute hero there. And he'll make Jalen Hurts better."
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St Brown was one comparison for Lemon among analysts ahead of the Draft, and he will now team up with DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley and Hurts to help ignite an offense that faced fierce criticism last season.
"He came on looking like he wanted to start playing a game right there and then," said Reynolds.
"He looked tough. He looked competitive. And he said these Eagles fans are getting a dog. And you feel like he is that sort of player.
"Dirt tough player who's going to just make plays. That's the sort of player that the Philadelphia Eagles fans will love."
2026 NFL Draft full first round:
- Fernando Mendoza - QB - Las Vegas Raiders
- David Bailey - EDGE - New York Jets
- Jeremiyah Love - RB - Arizona Cardinals
- Carnell Tate - WR - Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese - EDGE - New York Giants
- Mansoor Delane - CB - Kansas City Chiefs
- Sonny Styles - LB - Washington Commanders
- Jordyn Tyson - WR - New Orleans Saints
- Spencer Fano - OT - Cleveland Browns
- Francis Mauigoa - OT - New York Giants
- Caleb Downs - S - Dallas Cowboys
- Kadyn Proctor - OT - Miami Dolphins
- Ty Simpson - QB - Los Angeles Rams
- Olaivavega Ioane - G - Baltimore Ravens
- Rueben Bain Jr. - EDGE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Kenyon Sadiq - TE - New York Jets
- Blake Miller - OT - Detroit Lions
- Caleb Banks - DT - Minnesota Vikings
- Monroe Freeling - OT - Carolina Panthers
- Makai Lemon - WR - Philadelphia Eagles
- Max Iheanachor - OT - Pittsburgh Steelers
- Akheem Mesidor - EDGE - Los Angeles Chargers
- Malachi Lawrence - EDGE - Dallas Cowboys
- KC Concepcion - WR - Cleveland Browns
- Dillon Thieneman - S - Chicago Bears
- Keylan Rutledge - G - Houston Texans
- Chris Johnson - CB - Miami Dolphins
- Caleb Lomu - OT - New England Patriots
- Peter Woods - DT - Kansas City Chiefs
- Omar Cooper Jr. - WR - New York Jets
- Keldric Faulk - DE - Tennessee Titans
- Jadarian Price - RB - Seattle Seahawks
Watch day two of the NFL Draft from midnight on Friday live on Sky Sports Main Event, Action and Mix; the Draft then concludes with day three from 5pm on Saturday live on Sky Sports Action.
