Matthew Stafford’s reward for winning NFL MVP is a ticking clock in the shape of Ty Simpson.

The Rams delivered the biggest surprise of the NFL Draft’s first round Thursday when they drafted Simpson at No. 13 and put an early end to the foolish idea that the Alabama quarterback might have to wait until the second round to hear his name called.

The pick came with shades of 2024, when the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million free-agent contract but turned around and drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 to create an awkward quarterback dynamic that appears to have double-flopped. 

The Rams avoided making the mistake that the Falcons made in not cluing in Cousins and let Stafford, 38, know ahead of time that Simpson could be their pick but that the starting job is his for as long as he wants to play. Whether that remains true under pressure if the Super Bowl hopefuls falter remains to be seen in the fall, but Simpson sat for four seasons at Alabama before making his first 15 career starts last season.

Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement.

Before Simpson entered the draft, his father, a high school coach, reportedly spoke to Rams general manager Les Snead for advice on how his son would be seen by the NFL. The word was that Simpson would be a first-round pick — and Snead might have tipped his hand of his own interest.

Simpson was a one-year starter at Alabama, and the recent track record for quarterbacks with fewer than 30 career college starts is alarming.

Twelve of the 20 quarterbacks picked in the first or second round of the 2021-25 drafts made fewer than 30 starts. Drake Maye and C.J. Stroud are the only Pro Bowlers on the list, the jury is out on Bryce Young and J.J. McCarthy, Tyler Shough impressed as a rookie, and then you have busts Zach Wilson, Will Levis, Kyle Trask, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Trey Lance, and Anthony Richardson, most of whom already are well-traveled.

Here are five other takeaways from the first round:

1. Lucky in Love

The Cardinals made Jeremiyah Love (No. 3) the highest-drafted running back since 2018 (Saquon Barkley). In doing so, they will hand him a four-year, $50.5 million contract with the highest guarantee ever given to a running back and an average annual value that already ranks No. 7 among peers.

But the Cardinals needed playmakers and a face of the franchise. Love checks both boxes. Positional value be damned.

2. Brian Daboll happier than Robert Saleh?

The two fired New York head coaches are partners with the Titans and it seems the defensive-minded head coach Saleh deferred to the offensive coordinator Daboll.

The Titans delivered the first major surprise of the NFL Draft by going with receiver Carnell Tate — not the No. 1-ranked receiver for all teams — at No. 4 instead of a quarterback of their defense. Even after the Titans poached 100-yard receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (four years, $76 million) from the Giants in free agency.

In the end, getting weapons to help 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward succeed was the priority.

3. Buckeye Party

Four of the first 11 picks were teammates at Ohio State: Tate, edge/linebacker Arvell Reese (Giants) at No. 5, linebacker Sonny Styles (Commanders) at No. 5 and safety Caleb Downs (Cowboys) at No. 11.

Most Ohio State fans would tell you that Downs was the best player and yet he was the last to go.

There were a lot of mock drafts that had the Giants taking either Styles or Downs. Now they will see both of them in the NFC East.

The Cowboys annually are one of the NFL’s best drafting teams and trading two fifth-round picks to move up from No. 12 to No. 11 to secure a great player at their biggest need (secondary) is an example why.

4. Run on offensive linemen started earlier than expected.

It was thought that the run on offensive linemen would start around No. 14 and that getting in front of the Lions at No. 17 was key.

Well, pick Nos. 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 and 21 were all offensive linemen. Seven offensive linemen in the first 21 picks were the most since 2013, per NFL Network.

5. Another Cowboys-Eagles trade.

The last time there was one of these in the first round was in 2021. The picks resulted in DeVonta Smith and Micah Parsons — no regrets on either side — and squeezed the Giants out of their intended pick in Smith.

Five years later, the NFC East rivals did it again. The Eagles moved up from No. 23 to No. 20 for receiver Makai Lemon to say goodbye to A.J. Brown on June 1 — and the Cowboys dropped back three picks for pass-rusher Malachi Lawrence.