Rams' Ty Simpson says he had 'secret' meetings with Sean McVay leading up to shocking draft selection

The Los Angeles Rams were capable to astonishment nan NFL world connected Thursday nighttime pinch their action of Alabama backmost Ty Simpson because of immoderate "secret" pre-draft meetings.

Simpson, 23, said nan Rams wanted to propulsion different teams disconnected their scent by keeping nan meetings quiet.

"I had immoderate concealed meetings pinch coach (Sean) McVay, and I conscionable was trying to beryllium connected book and do what everybody told maine and not to show anybody," Simpson said during a caller question and reply pinch ESPN Radio.

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Ty Simpson of Alabama celebrates aft being selected arsenic nan 13th wide prime by nan Los Angeles Rams during nan first information of nan 2026 NFL Draft astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Simpson said he knew nan Rams were interested, but wanted to support it discreet.

"We tried to support this nether wraps arsenic agelong arsenic we could," Simpson said. "It was thing to wherever I knew they were interested, but they wanted to make it backstage and didn’t want group to cognize that they were interested."

The Tennessee autochthonal compared talking pinch Rams caput coach Sean McVay during nan "secret meeting" to being for illustration a kid a candy shop, raving astir his caller situation.

"It was great, we met astatine nan installation and it was thing to wherever we conscionable talked for hours and hours, it was conscionable football. It was conscionable straight football, and it was for illustration a kid successful a candy store. Me and him are sitting there, we’re conscionable going backmost and forth. You tin show nan obsession he has for nan crippled and you tin show nan emotion he has for backmost play," Simpson said.

"It’s thing that I admit and it’s thing that I bask because I really bask playing nan position and worth nan position. So, being pinch him and getting to cognize him and seeing a small spot of really I would get coached if I was fortunate capable to spell location was something. I couldn’t person asked for a amended situation."

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Ty Simpson of nan Alabama Crimson Tide warms up earlier nan College Football Playoff quarterfinal crippled against nan Indiana Hoosiers astatine Rose Bowl Stadium successful Pasadena, Calif., connected Jan. 1, 2026. (CFP/Getty Images)

The action of Simpson was truthful astonishing because nan Rams are successful win-now mode. While nan Rams mightiness beryllium getting up by drafting their backmost of nan future, nan No. 13 wide prime could person been utilized connected a subordinate astatine a different position who could effect nan squad this season.

Matthew Stafford played immoderate of nan champion shot of his profession successful his 17th season, winning his first MVP past twelvemonth pinch nan Rams. However, nan 38-year-old backmost only announced he was returning for different play erstwhile he capped his MVP reside pinch nan news.

With Stafford’s early seemingly uncertain aft adjacent season, nan Rams sewage a jump connected their heir evident successful Simpson.

McVay said during a property convention connected Friday that he is excited for Simpson to study from Stafford.

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Los Angeles Rams caput coach Sean McVay walks connected nan section astatine Lumen Field aft nan 2026 NFC Championship Game against nan Seattle Seahawks successful Seattle, Washington, connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Kevin Ng/Imagn Images)

"I’m excited to beryllium capable to adhd Ty. What a blessing it is for him to beryllium capable to study from Matthew and to beryllium capable to travel into this ambiance and environment. Whenever that clip comes for him to get an opportunity to beryllium Matthew’s successor will beryllium connected Matthew’s terms. I deliberation that’s really what nan important point was. I didn’t want that to ever beryllium misunderstood while not minimizing nan excitement for Ty and nan buy-in," McVay said.

"Les and his group really liked him. As soon arsenic we started really studying him, location was a assemblage of work, for illustration I talked about, that was a good, nosy evaluation. A batch of nan concepts that we would activate. The feline is simply a shot junkie and plays pinch nan timing and rhythm. You tin spot that he’s a coach’s son. His travel is simply a nosy 1 that he’s been through."

OutKick's Clay Travis said Simpson would beryllium nan cleanable fresh for nan Rams earlier nan NFL Draft began past week.

Simpson started conscionable 1 play with Alabama, his last 1 successful 2025. In 15 games, he completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards pinch 28 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

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