Apr 24, 2026 · 51 min
Rams’ quarterback gamble draws scrutiny over draft value
Hour 1 - Stealing the Thunder
The episode tests whether a Super Bowl contender can justify using a premium pick on development instead of immediate defensive help.
- 1The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall, prompting questions about whether the pick addressed an urgent need.
- 2Ben Maller argues first-round selections should usually provide immediate impact, not require a long developmental runway.
- 3The hour also challenges the NFL’s 320,000-person draft attendance claim and revisits how sports crowds are counted.
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Maller argues that the Rams could have selected Ty Simpson later while using the 13th pick on an immediate contributor.
The brief
Ben Maller opens with the NFL Draft’s central surprise: the Rams took Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall despite contending for a Super Bowl.
Maller’s argument is about timing as much as talent: Simpson may develop, but the Rams could have pursued him later and used No. 13 on immediate defensive help.
Nick Saban’s enthusiastic endorsement receives scrutiny because of his continuing financial ties to Alabama, complicating the weight given to his evaluation.
The hour widens its skepticism to Roger Goodell’s claim that 320,000 people attended the draft’s first round in Pittsburgh, questioning how such totals are verified.
Callers debate whether the Rams reached, while Maller notes the backlash could prove misleading if Simpson succeeds despite widespread criticism.
The hour closes with the Who Am I? game, revealing Jameis Winston, alongside more draft discussion and an awkward Goodell-Mike Vrabel exchange.
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