The NFL Draft opened with a gamble, a surprise and a sign of things to come

NFLThe NFL Draft opened with a gamble, a surprise and a sign of things to comeThe Rams picking QB Ty Simpson shocked experts and fans alike, but it wasn't the only takeaway from Thursday's first round.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Ty Simpson of Alabama celebrates after being selected thirteenth overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Thursday.Emilee Chinn / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 24, 2026, 6:01 AM EDTBy Rohan Nadkarni and Andrew GreifThe NFL draft kicked off with its first round on Thursday night, as most teams made their initial selection in what’s become a multi-day affair.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The Las Vegas Raiders began the festivities by selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. While Mendoza’s selection was a foregone solution, what happened next had plenty of twists and turns.Here are the biggest takeaways from the draft’s opening night. Biggest surprise: QB Ty Simpson, Los Angeles RamsThe Rams made perhaps the biggest reach of the first round, taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. For context, NBC Sports’ Connor Rogers had Simpson ranked as the 42nd-best prospect in the draft on his big board.So why Simpson? Well, if anyone can coax the most out of him, it should be Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay, a quarterback whisperer whose play-action heavy offense could unlock Simpson. Remember, before he was making the Super Bowl or winning double-digit games with the Detroit Lions, Jared Goff was seen as a potential bust until McVay became his head coach.Simpson will definitely be a project. He was only a one-season starter for the Crimson Tide, and he faded down the stretch of his final collegiate season. In his last five games at Alabama, Simpson failed to complete 20 passes in any of them. He also thre...