Brock: Rams’ QB pick at No. 13 overall a gift to Seahawks

The Los Angeles Rams picked their potential successor for reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford during first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard loved the move… for the Seattle Seahawks.

Rams’ McVay didn’t seem excited about pick of QB Simpson

The Rams selected Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson, who some draft experts viewed as a second-round talent, with the 13th overall pick. When considering some of the offensive playmakers who were left on the board, Huard thinks Los Angeles did Seattle favor.

“You could not have drawn it up any better, not with (wide receiver) Makai Lemon out there, not with (tight end) Kenyon Sadiq out there,” Huard said. “For a whole offseason the Rams did nothing but say win now, the window is now, we got to take on the Seahawks now, we got to address our biggest needs now. And you have a receiver in Lemon and a tight end in Sadiq that could add to that repertoire. What do you think Matthew Stafford’s thinking right now? We did what?”

Seahawks 2026 NFL Draft Tracker: Keep up with picks and trades

Huard said there are traits Simpson has that he likes, but his performance on the field didn’t warrant being picked as high as he was.

“There’s things I love about this guy. As a human being, he is 100. I love this guy, and I could see where they’re enamored with that,” Huard said. “As a pure thrower in shorts and T-shirts, oh man, he could spin his hips and he could really spin the ball and it’s beautiful. (But) put on a lot of the game tape, put on the end of the year tape. Don’t show me early in the year when you feel good and everybody feels good. Let me see you at the end of the year. You got benched. You got benched at the end of the year.”

Details: Seahawks 2026 NFL Draft coverage from Seattle Sports

Huard was referring to the Rose Bowl when the Crimson Tide benched Simpson in the second half against Indiana down 24-0. A rib injury that occurred during the game also factored in to Simpson’s benching.

Simpson was a first-year start for Alabama last season after serving as Jalen Milroe’s backup in 2023 and 2024. Milroe was a third-round pick by the Seahawks last year.

Huard pointed to the lack of success college quarterbacks with little starting experience have had in the NFL as another reason to like the Rams’ pick of Simpson.

“There’s been nobody with 15 or less starts in their college career that has thrived in the NFL,” Huard said. “He decided to go to the NFL. Good for him, top-15 pick. But, man, that blows my mind.”

More on the Seattle Seahawks and the NFL Draft

• For 3rd straight year, an OL from Washington state goes in 1st round
• How examining other teams helps Seahawks’ draft prep
• Brock names Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price his top Seahawks draft fit
• Daniel Jeremiah’s draft take: How far can Seahawks trade back?
• NFL Draft: What – and who – Seahawks could get by trading back

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