The first round of the NFL Draft last night saw many trades, players fall, players get taken by two teams, just about everything you could want to happen in the first round happened. There were some clear winners of the draft and some losers of the draft. Let's talk about it!
Winners:
Ty Simpson - QB (Rams)
Now I will be honest, I did not see any world where Simpson went in the first round, let alone the top fifteen. But the Rams are one of the best run organizations in the entire league so who am I to question that decision. With the Rams taking Simpson at pick thirteen, that makes him my biggest winner in the first round of the draft. Simpson lands in one of the best organizations with the best coaches, specifically tailored to quarterbacks. He also gets a contract, four years, twenty-four million dollars fully guaranteed. The Rams will have the option to sign him to a fifth year, which I would imagine they do if they view him as the next man up after Stafford. If you are a quarterback with the ability to pick which organization you end up in, I would be hard pressed to believe you pick anywhere that isn't the Rams. For those reasons, Simpson is not just a winner of the first round, he is the biggest winner.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns do it again. Trade back in the draft, add more draft capital, and still get the player they were targeting. Last year they moved down adding a second first round pick for this draft and still drafting Mason Graham. This year they add a third and a fifth from Kansas City who moved up to six to draft Delane. That was a shock as most of the media agreed he would be there at nine. The Browns use the ninth pick on Spencer Fano who was widely regarded as the best tackle in this class. They used their late first round pick on KC Concepcion, wide receiver out of Texas A&M. Before the draft I believed the Browns should go receiver then tackle, or tackle then receiver. They did just that while adding more capital. That is a win for the Browns.
Ohio State
How does a college team win during round one of the draft? When your program has four players taken within the first eleven picks of the draft that is a big win. Not that Ohio State needs the help to recruit the best of the best, but being able to show recruits or transfers this draft can't hurt. The Buckeyes should expect to hear three to four more guys get their name called in the second and third round tonight.
Losers:
Pittsburgh Steelers
I had the Steelers taking a tackle with their first pick to cover the potential first few weeks of the season if Broderick Jones can not go. What makes them a loser is the fact the player they wanted to draft and actually had on the phone telling him he was about to be a Steeler was swept right from under them. The Steelers believed the Cowboys would take a defensive player and figured they were safe to call the player they wanted, Makai Lemon. What they didn't expect to happen was the Eagles trading right in front of them and snagging their guy. In the end the Steelers took the position I thought they should have, but the embarrassment from drafting a guy before they were on the clock will live on forever.
Los Angeles Rams
While the Rams pick in Ty Simpson gets a winning grade as a player, the team in my book gets an L for the pick. Matt Stafford has one maybe even two more competitive seasons in him. The Rams are in "win now" mode. In my eyes as a team in that mode you have to take a guy that builds on the last seasons success. Ty Simpson does not, but Rueben Bain does. I think the Rams should have selected Bain adding to the defense that was a few snaps away from a Super Bowl last season. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand taking the guy you believe to be the successor to Stafford, I just disagree with using pick thirteen on that player. Like I mentioned earlier, the Rams are one of the best ran organization in the sport, so I will have to revisit this take at the end of the 2026-27 season. This pick will be discussed throughout the season if the Rams defense takes a step back this season.
Will Campbell
The Patriots used their first round selection on a left tackle the last two seasons. There were question marks around Campbell all last season on his ability to to play left tackle over right tackle. With the Pats taking another left tackle in this draft, I think Campbell should be holding his breath. Both players, Campbell and Caleb Lomu are 6'6 and around 315 pounds. Lomu has slightly longer arms. It will be a camp battle to determine who is the starter on the left side, I would lean Campbell but don't be shocked if Lomu is the starter.
Day two of the draft kicks off at 7pm eastern. A lot of talent left to be chosen. Let's enjoy another night of watching players dreams come true.
As always, Who Dey & Go Redlegs!
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