Opinions were mixed on the Rams selecting Ty Simpson 13th overall in NFL Draft

Ty Simpson being selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles Rams was the surprise of the first round of the NFL Draft...if you hadn't been paying attention.

There has been smoke connecting Simpson to the Rams for months. That smoke grew even thicker in recent days, with ESPN's Dan Graziano connecting the dots of the Alabama QB ending up in LA.

It was no secret that Sean McVay and the Rams thought highly of Simpson in the pre-draft process. And now, the Crimson Tide signal-caller ends up in a situation that is absolutely perfect for him. He'll get to sit and learn behind the reigning NFL MVP in Matthew Stafford while mastering a system that is tailor-made for a QB with his elite processing skills.

Some people were fans of this selection. Many others weren't. Only time will tell whether the Rams made the right choice, but holding steady and taking him at No. 13 should show you how highly they thought of him.

Social media reacts to Ty Simpson's stunning selection at No. 13 to the Rams

First off, a much-deserved victory lap for Dan Orlvosky. The former NFL QB had been beating the drum and standing on an island about Simpson for seemingly months on end. He took a lot of undue criticism for his support and admiration for the former Tide QB.

And outside of Simpson's family, there probably wasn't a person more excited to hear his name called on Thursday night than Orlovsky.

The Rams always made sense as a landing spot for Simpson. He's a perfect fit in that system, and he'll have time to develop before he's got to take a meaningful snap.

Worth a listen here. Jon Gruden's pre-draft QB school always draws a ton of interest from fans and NFL shot-callers. Gruden is a big fan of Simpson.

Danny Kanell not being sold on the pick is the surest sign yet that Simpson is going to be a great pro.

A lot of folks who cover the Rams were hoping Los Angeles would prioritize a player who makes them better next season in pursuit of a second Super Bowl in the McVay/Stafford era. Instead, the Rams prioritized their future at the game's most important position.

You'll notice a trend: the folks who actually get paid to evaluate quarterbacks love Simpson. The folks who buy into dumb narratives are the ones who don't. That should tell you all you need to know.

The Rams obviously saw something special in Simpson that they did not believe they would be able to find in the next draft or in free agency.

No, but the Rams raised their ceiling a couple of months ago by packaging the No. 29 pick to land elite CB Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs. They used their other first-rounder to prioritize their future at QB.

Orlovsky is alone no longer! Former NFL WR TJ Houshmandzadeh believes Simpson will have a better career than No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. He's certainly in a better situation.

McVay's belief in Simpson should be enough to change the opinion of anyone who doubts him.

It always seemed silly, particularly after strong performances at the NFL Combine and Alabama's Pro Day, that Simpson would fall out of the first round. It turns out, he came nowhere close.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow