Overview of NFL Draft Reaction: Rams-Ty Simpson, Cowboys-Caleb Downs, Giants & Jets Smart
This segment is a live, round-by-round reaction to a hypothetical first-round NFL Draft, with a strong focus on team-building philosophy, positional value, and why some picks are smart even when they look unconventional. The hosts debate the Rams taking Ty Simpson, praise the Cowboys for landing Caleb Downs, like the Giants and Jets’ approach, and spend a lot of time on how current NIL/college football economics are changing the NFL draft pipeline.
Biggest Draft Themes
Quarterback value vs. quarterback risk
- The Rams’ rumored selection of Ty Simpson at No. 13 is the biggest philosophical debate.
- The argument for Simpson:
- Sean McVay has a history of making QBs work with strong coaching.
- The Rams may view him as a long-term “redshirt” quarterback in the Jordan Love mold.
- They’re likely to draft late again, so taking a QB now could avoid paying a huge price to trade up later.
- The argument against Simpson:
- He’s a one-year starter with limited game reps.
- Quarterback is too important to spend a premium pick on a player with that much uncertainty.
- The hosts believe most successful NFL QBs have far more high-level college experience.
The draft is loaded with linemen and edge players
- Their overall read: this class is better for offensive tackles, interior linemen, edge rushers, and defensive backs than for quarterbacks.
- A repeated point: when a draft has “true difference-makers,” it tends to be at the top — not necessarily in the middle of the first round.
- They repeatedly praise teams for taking players who should be long-term starters, even if they aren’t flashy.
The Big Ten is overtaking the SEC in draft production
- A big macro takeaway: the Big Ten had 10 first-round picks, while the SEC had only one among the first 11 selections.
- They argue NIL and modern spending power are reshaping college football recruiting and development.
- Their view:
- The Big Ten’s money, brand power, and large-school infrastructure are pulling ahead.
- Traditional SEC advantages are shrinking.
- Programs like Indiana and Vanderbilt are becoming more dangerous because of investment and academic/business-school advantages.
Team-by-Team Reactions
Rams: Ty Simpson at 13
- The Rams’ QB pick is framed as a big-picture, forward-thinking move.
- They think:
- Matthew Stafford may only have a couple years left.
- Jimmy Garoppolo may be near retirement.
- Simpson could develop without being forced onto the field too early.
- Still, they admit it’s risky because he hasn’t played enough to justify a top-15 selection to many teams.
Cowboys: Caleb Downs at 11
- This is one of the strongest reactions in the segment: they love Dallas taking Caleb Downs.
- Why it makes sense:
- He’s viewed as one of the safest elite players in the draft.
- Dallas needed help at safety and corner.
- The Cowboys continue to show strong first-round drafting judgment.
- They also emphasize Dallas’ defensive reshaping:
- The team has added major talent around the front and back end.
- Downs fits a defense that wants smart, versatile, high-IQ players.
Giants and Jets: smart, value-driven approaches
- The hosts like how both New York teams approached the draft:
- Giants: best player available, plus protection for the quarterback.
- Jets: added a pass rusher, a playmaker, and later a receiver.
- They don’t see obvious bust potential in the group the two teams selected.
- The Jets in particular are credited with doing a good job adding young, usable pieces despite chaos around the franchise.
Buccaneers: Reuben Bain at 15
- Tampa Bay gets praise for selecting Reuben Bain, a player they think simply looks like a football player.
- They acknowledge the measurables concern, but argue:
- Some guys just produce.
- Jason Licht has a strong history of finding value.
- A player can fall in the teens because other teams chase needs.
Eagles: Mekhi Lemon at 20
- The Eagles taking Mekhi Lemon is a strong value play in their view.
- Why they like it:
- Strong hands, yards-after-catch ability, dependable production.
- Can be moved around in motion and used creatively.
- Fits Philly’s offensive style if A.J. Brown eventually moves on.
- They compare him stylistically to Amon-Ra St. Brown in terms of toughness and catch reliability.
Chiefs: aggressive, but smart
- Kansas City is praised for moving up to solve needs while keeping future flexibility.
- They like the idea of the Chiefs prioritizing:
- Corner
- Interior defensive line
- Then edge later
- The reasoning is simple: if you have Mahomes, Reid, and Spagnuolo, you can afford to be selective and take cost-efficient, plug-and-play players.
Texans: interior offensive line help
- Houston takes an interior lineman and gets a thumbs-up.
- The hosts think the Texans are trying to:
- Protect the quarterback better
- Re-establish the run game
- Lean on their strong defense
- They believe Houston’s defense is already elite enough that the offense just needs to become more controlled and efficient.
Patriots: moving up for a tackle
- New England jumping Kansas City for a tackle is viewed as a smart, proactive move.
- The emphasis: good offensive lines are a big reason teams win in January.
- They also note New England still has enough roster holes that the draft should be about finding dependable starters, not only stars.
Broncos / Chargers / Seahawks / other late-first reactions
- Chargers: get praised for continuing to build around Harbaugh-style trenches and pass rush.
- Seahawks: seen as smart for taking defenders who fit their identity.
- Steelers: taking an offensive tackle is treated as the right kind of boring.
- Titans: their edge pick is more about traits than production, which makes the hosts uneasy.
- Dolphins: criticized most sharply; they feel Miami could be one of the league’s worst teams next year.
Players the Hosts Especially Liked
Safest/highest-floor types
- Caleb Downs
- Mekhi Lemon
- Dillon Thieneman
- A versatile safety who can start early.
- Jadarian Price
- Explosive running back and kick returner; seen as good value.
Risky but intriguing prospects
- Ty Simpson
- Caden Proctor
- Keldric Faulk
- Peter Woods
- Reuben Bain
- Akeem Mesidor
- Caleb Lomu
- These players were discussed as talented, but with questions about production, effort, injury history, or fit.
Notable Draft Philosophy Takeaways
“Need” is less important than “starter quality”
- They repeatedly argue that good teams should not force picks just because a position is a need.
- The best organizations draft players who can actually help, even if the pick isn’t glamorous.
Quarterbacks are judged differently
- For QB, the bar is much higher:
- More college reps matter.
- A limited sample is a bigger red flag than it would be at receiver or safety.
- That’s why Simpson is debated so heavily compared to other prospects.
Small-school players can still work
- They are generally open to smaller-school defenders and receivers, especially DBs.
- But they want to know why a player stayed at a smaller school if major programs were supposedly interested.
- In the NIL era, they think loyalty is admirable, but also a little concerning if it kept a player from facing top competition sooner.
Bottom Line
The conversation’s overall verdict is that this was a good first round for teams that prioritized real football players over hype. The hosts especially liked the Cowboys, Eagles, Chiefs, Texans, Patriots, and Giants/Jets for their value-driven approaches. Their biggest skepticism centered on the Rams’ Ty Simpson pick and any selection based too heavily on traits over production.
Their final macro view:
- The draft was stronger at the top than the middle.
- Offensive line, edge, and defensive back were the true strength areas.
- The Big Ten’s rise over the SEC is now a real roster-building story, not just a theory.