Shortcast

Friday after the draft is my kind of show, so let’s go; I trust smart teams, and the Rams taking Ty Simpson fits that lens.

Sixty quarterbacks end up playing every season. Stafford is thirty-eight with a fickle back, so planning at quarterback beats chasing a receiver they always uncover later.

I would’ve preferred a tackle, but the top options were gone at thirteen, and you could not bank on Simpson slipping to round two while you draft late next year.

This is Matthew’s team; we added a backup to develop while serving both the short and long term, and we’re excited to work with him.

Simpson landed perfectly with McVay and time to sit, which has worked for Green Bay and even Baker in a pinch here, though I still would’ve gone tackle.

We graded our corner as a top five player, so once in range we went up quietly to secure him rather than leave it to chance.

Elite outfits fix precise needs, not everything; the Chiefs checked boxes at running back, corner, and the line, and the Eagles smartly climbed for a true number two.

Did McVay even want this; he hadn’t spoken to Simpson, looked tight on the podium, and I can see Stafford and that room wanting win-now help.

Two drafts I didn’t enjoy—Tennessee reached on a receiver and then moved up for a raw rusher, and Miami chose the one tackle I least trusted due to weight and consistency flags.

The Bears and even New England flipped fast into specific-need teams, which is the goal, and the Simpson pick drew heat so I brought in Albert.

McVay does like Simpson; thirteen felt early but sitting behind Stafford in a rhythm system is ideal, and if you hit on a quarterback no one cares what you passed on.

Dallas grabbing Caleb Downs at eleven felt like a steal; I’ve loved his tape for years.

Downs plays like a field general who’s never out of place, projects as a captain by year two, and some see gold-jacket upside despite the safety label.

I usually dislike trading up, but true number one corners were scarce, so I liked Kansas City jumping for the best one while the Eagles filled their wideout hole.

Medical red flags dropped another top corner, leaving a clear CB1, so the Chiefs leaped the Saints at a fair cost, and their staff develops defensive backs as well as anyone.

Back to Miami, Proctor’s traits tempt you, but weight and motor questions plus a new paycheck can be a risky mix, even if the later corner fit.

The new regime wanted safer profiles, but this is a traits bet that puts pressure on the coaches; in a fully formed room it might have been cleaner.

Brandon Beane catches heat, yet trading down for nine picks makes sense with an expensive core; they have pass-catchers and line pieces, so now go get cheaper, scheme-fit defenders.

That’s the move with a franchise quarterback contract, because you need volume to stock the middle of the roster and match the new coordinator’s scheme.

The Jets chose the safe premium at receiver over a defensive chess piece, which I get, but it still felt a touch rich.

You likely will not miss on Carnell Tate given his toughness and polish, and Ohio State’s depth means non-ones there often become high-end pros, so the ceiling question stays open.

Big-picture reminder to close: the NFL draft is deep, undrafted players pop every year, and with an aging starter a calculated quarterback reach beats rolling the dice on spare backups.