Joe Torosian's Outsiders Sports

By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

Winner Dan Orlovsky!

For last night’s draft to be a success, the Rams have to win the Super Bowl this year.

At the post-draft presser, Sean McVay looked about as happy as a Katie Porter staffer. And that might be a bigger issue than Ty Simpson’s drafting.

I understand the In McSnead We Trust crowd, I’m a contributing member, but this one’s tough to take because the Super Bowl window is open now.

Ty Simpson, obviously, is someone the Rams like. Fits their character template, and we can assume what they are looking for in a decision maker.

What’s obvious to us outside the War Room is that Simpson has neither an exceptional arm, nor exceptional size…nor any apparent unanimity between Les Snead and Sean McVay on his selection.

I hope McVay wasn’t feeling well or upset about California politics, because his disposition last night showed a lot of distance between him and Les Snead.

And that’s worrisome.

Simpson, most likely, won’t be any help in 2026. If Stafford gets hurt, based on the premise of the 13th overall pick sitting and learning, we don’t even know if he’ll see the field.

“He’ll compete with Stetson,” McVay said. And if Stetson gets the call before Simpson in a quarterback crisis, it will be awkward.

The Rams’ wide receiver room is extremely thin, and they have no depth at tackle. Those things can be addressed today, but they missed the opportunity to get something better.

If I’m Stafford or Davante Adams, I’m a little hacked. Drafting Simpson is more about 2028 than 2026. And no one knows what the landscape will look like in 2026.

Did anyone expect Aaron Donald to retire after 2023? That’s how fast things change with an NFL roster. So when your window is open, you have to go through now.

Picks #61 and #93 are still out there; they need to get a receiver who can play now, and a tackle who can play meaningful snaps if called upon.

Something to consider: The Rams, as a Super Bowl contender, will be picking at #31 or #32 in 2027… they can move next year’s number one if they see something they like.

Last Add Playmaker: It could be possible that the Rams think Terrance Ferguson is ready to break out this fall.

If the Rams win the Super Bowl this coming season, then the drafting of Simpson will be incredible, and we’re back to In McSnead We Trust.

But as it is now, everyone else got better, and the Rams didn’t.

DraftViews:
Mansoor Delane, the Chiefs’ first-round pick out of LSU, misgendered Lara Rutledge. He called her, ‘Sir.’…so insensitive.

The only Ohio State player not drafted last night was Brian Baschnagel.

The NFL Network had the best draft desk I’ve ever seen. Rich Eisen, who’s okay but better at the desk than in the booth, was with Joel Klatt, Charles Davis, and Daniel Jeremiah.

No one was designated the clown or funny guy. It was just great football commentary.

Quick thoughts, if I’m a Raider fan, I love that Fernando Mendoza wanted to be with his family rather than at the draft. It also says a place like Vegas won’t seduce him.

Carnell Tate going to the Tennessee Titans surprised me. I thought Jordy Tyson was crying because he was going to New Orleans… I’d cry too. And Makai Lemon was weird again.

The kid had no off-the-field problems at USC, so he shouldn’t be painted as trouble. He was just weird, weird with an excellent pair of hands.

So with Lemon going to Philly, does A.J. Brown last the weekend with the Eagles?

#32—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

The Dude abides…

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Job 5:8-9
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
“RamView” M-W-F
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By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

I got up this morning, had my pancakes, and started thinking about moving off #13…So who’s desperate?

The Detroit Lions need a tackle.

The Rams could move back, collect some capital, and fill multiple depth needs.

If any team has been consistent in doing what you didn’t expect them to do since 2017, it’s the Los Angeles Rams.

I do not know, or have a sense of, what they will do with the 13th overall pick in tonight’s NFL Draft… but please… oh, please…

This is where they’ve started the draft in the McVay Era: #46, #19, #36, #104, #57, #52, #61, #89, #44…My feeling is if you’re going to draft at #13, you’ve got to go for a playmaker.

Drafting a tackle in the first round makes me ill as a fan:
2014—Greg Robinson #2 overall
2009—Jason Smith #2 overall
2005—Alex Barron #19 overall

I realize I’m getting into the weeds here, but Warren McClendon (the current RT) has given no indication that he can play left tackle, which means he can’t be a swing tackle.

The Rams, if they don’t trade out of #13, should grab a playmaker first for Matthew Stafford and then on the second day, draft depth at tackle.

To paraphrase Sonny Weaver Jr., “Every year someone comes out of this looking like a donkey. Can you hear me? … Good. Because tomorrow, I got a feeling it could be the Rams if they take a tackle at 13.”

Saw an item on the Indiana Fever not being able to sell out their first home game of the season. This is the team that has Caitlin Clark on it.

Currently, the cheapest ticket for the Fever home opener is $83.

With the WNBA players making more money, the NBA and China are going to have to come up with more dough to keep this league afloat.

(Maybe Trump’s goal in cutting off China’s oil supply is about ending the WNBA?… But I jest.)

Would the ghost of a Seattle Supersonic feel welcomed in OKC? Or is the basketball spirit of a player like Downtown Fred Brown condemned to roam the NBA netherworld for eternity?

Someone should have reminded the Orlando Magic that there were still third and fourth quarters left to play in Detroit last night.

What happened to the Boston Red Sox and John Henry?

#31—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

First way to create a problem for your NFL team? Bring in George Pickens.

Second way to double down on that mistake? Franchise Tag Pickens and then announce you’re not going to have any further contract negotiations.

Third way to continue making mistakes? Leave it all up to the Jones Boys.

The Dude abides…

1,276
2 Timothy 1:6-7
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
“RamView” M-W-F
Follow Joe on X: @joet13b

By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

So it’s Earth Day… The day every guy who played basketball with a 3-inch vertical leap is celebrated. … Feels good to finally be acknowledged.

Just call me Scoot.

I knew LeBron wanted to win last night because I saw him play through contact and the hard breathing of defenders without collapsing in agony.

But I don’t know if the Bronny minutes were necessary.

Win or lose, Houston’s So-Be-It Thompson is a great player to watch.

A lefty, blonde hair, white guy who went to Duke…give Luke Kennard a massive birthmark and you’ve got the return of Jack Marin.
(I know no one remembers Marin, but it was too rich to pass up.)

Note to Dodgers: I want to give you some love, so what are you doing losing to Frisco?

#30—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

Looking forward to eating some pancakes tomorrow morning and gearing up for the NFL Draft. Really anxious to see what moves are made, who gets mad, and all the spin.

If Myles Garrett were moved from Cleveland to Philadelphia, that would be a win for the Browns… and, depending on the price, a win for the Eagles.

I’m always suspicious of overpaying for edge rushers. Granted, Garrett is the Cadillac of pass rushers, but a Honda gets you to work as well…and you don’t have to worry about anyone scratching, dinging, or stealing it when you’re inside the mall.

If they do, go get another Honda.

UConn’s Solo Ball announces he will miss the entire 2026-2027 college basketball season after having wrist surgery. His intention is to return to the Huskies the following season.

With all these NBA games broadcast on various platforms, each offers its own analytics, including live stats, trends, and probabilities… It’s interesting, but it’s distracting if you want to see the game itself.

Watching the NBA playoffs last night, I couldn’t help but think how happy Paul George is to be away from the Clippers, and De’Aaron Fox is to be out of Sacramento.

I don’t like the Boston Celtics, but I do like their HC Joe Mazzulla. I also like Jaylen Brown. Brown playing with Boston and Jayson Tatum is like Anquan Boldin playing in Arizona with Larry Fitzgerald.

Attention is always going to Tatum…but Brown is far tougher.

Speaking of Boldin, that’s another pass catcher lost in the Hall of Fame’s wide receiver abyss.

Great win for the Philadelphia 76ers last night in Boston. I think what helped the 76ers was that they looked like the 76ers. When the spirits of Caldwell Jones, Bobby Jones, and Andrew Toney showed up, they knew who to inspire.

Did you happen to see Philly guard Tyrese Maxey’s reverse lay-up with 2:24 to play in the fourth?

Speaking of unis…the Lakers’ unis last night were a disgrace.

Is the word “hunt” or “hunted” getting a little overused in NBA circles?

Did the Lakers “hunt” Kevin Durant, or did they lock him down? Or did they guard him? Or did they just play defense?

I don’t even want to talk about the Kings, the Avalanche, and overtime…

The Dude abides…

1,275
2 Timothy 4:1-5
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
“RamView” M-W-F
Follow Joe on X: @joet13b