NFL fans will soon find out whether Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson falls in the 2026 NFL Draft or if some team makes a bold move to grab him in the first round on Thursday.
He’s viewed as the second-best quarterback in this class, but the consensus points to only one signal-caller, Fernando Mendoza, going in Round 1.
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A noticeable gap exists between projection and proof when it comes to Simpson over the last three and a half months. Analysts lean more toward what he could become rather than what he’s consistently put on tape.
Sure, there were flashes of polished quarterback play. But many still think his overall body of work lacks the completeness needed to erase that projection element. That lingering doubt shaped much of the pre-draft conversation.
Simpson is not one to ignore the criticism tied to his draft profile. In a recent appearance with Kay Adams on “Up & Adams,” he addressed those concerns head-on and fired back at anyone questioning his readiness.
“I really get upset when people say that I’m not athletic, and I don’t have arm strength. I don’t know where they kind of get that from. If you go watch my tape from my freshman year on, like I’m running around making plays, like being an athlete. So, the non-athletic part is very puzzling to me.”
"I play better with a chip on my shoulder… I appreciate Dan [Orlovsky] standing on the table for me."Alabama QB Ty Simpson on being a "polarizing" quarterback 👀@ty_simpson06 | @danorlovsky7 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/KT1xVaq2Jw
Simpson isn’t fazed by critics pointing out perceived weaknesses. He actually plays better with a chip on his shoulder and enjoys proving doubters wrong.
“I just think that, one, I play better with a chip on my shoulder. It gives me something to prove people wrong about. I feel like that it’s something that it gets me an edge and it puts a fire underneath me to go out and prove these people wrong,” Simpson added.
Simpson put together a steady and productive 2025 season that quietly placed him among the SEC’s top performers.
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The Alabama quarterback earned second-team All-SEC honors and landed as a finalist for the Manning Award, which recognizes the nation’s top signal-caller, including postseason play.
Statistically, he ranked seventh in the FBS with 305 completions on 473 attempts, finishing at 64.5 percent. He also placed 10th nationally with 3,567 passing yards, along with 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
Simpson started all 15 games and added two rushing touchdowns to his production. He also served as team captain, underlining both his on-field consistency and leadership role.