HOLLYWOOD PARK, Calif. -- Draft night is an amalgam of mood shifts, which the Los Angeles Rams brain trust experienced in full scope Thursday night.
Shortly after 9 p.m. ET, head coach Sean McVay was on the phone with his new quarterback, Ty Simpson, who was hunched over in a puffy white chair from the green room of the NFL draft, fighting an avalanche of emotion.
"Let's go make history, Coach," Simpson told McVay, his voice cracking.
"Yeah... Hey, enjoy this night -- you earned it," McVay responded.
Minutes later, McVay -- normally a walking espresso shot in terms of energy -- appeared subdued, almost frustrated at a news conference discussing the decision to take Simpson at No. 13 overall. The decision was a weighty one, considering the Rams' championship aspirations and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford leading the team under center.
When asked whether Simpson was the team's first target at No. 13, McVay, alongside general manager Les Snead, eventually pivoted to Stafford.