When the Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the NFL Draft, it raised more than a few eyebrows. But if you ask Simpson himself, he didn't even notice the buzz.
"I just know they called my name on the 13th pick — and, sign me up, I was going to Los Angeles," Simpson said with a confident smile. "I don't really get into all that."
The rookie signal-caller was back in town this weekend for a good cause, joining teammate and reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford at the WalkUnitedLA fundraising event at Hollywood Park. The scene was a fitting metaphor for the Rams' quarterback room: Stafford, the established star, stood at the starting line, while Simpson and the rest of the rookie class manned the finish.
It's a dynamic that will shift to the practice field Monday, when the Rams continue their voluntary offseason workouts in Woodland Hills. For the first time, Stafford and Simpson will share the same meeting room and the same turf.
"So excited to be here, not only in a great city like Los Angeles, but a great organization like the Rams," Simpson said after greeting runners and presenting medals at the 5K event. "There's great people and great friends in the rookie class, just excited to get started."
The Rams' decision to draft a quarterback with limited collegiate experience — just 15 starts at Alabama — instead of addressing other needs was seen by many as a surprise move for a team seemingly built to win now. The reaction from fans and pundits was swift, but Simpson insists he was blissfully unaware.
General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay were notably subdued in their draft-night press conference. McVay later explained he was being mindful of Stafford's leadership role, and that a personal matter also affected his demeanor. Asked if he'd watched the press conference, Simpson simply replied, "I didn't really see it."
Instead, the young quarterback is focused on what's ahead. "I know coach McVay has been in contact and he's super fired up," Simpson said. "And I'm super excited. I know that I couldn't have asked for a better situation, not only with the best player in the league in front of me but the best coach in the league at the helm."
Whether Simpson becomes the Rams' quarterback of the future or a trade asset down the line, one thing is clear: he's not letting the noise distract him from the work ahead.