NFL teams in need of a quarterback will have eyes on Ty Simpson at the NFL Scouting Combine set to begin on Feb. 26. Will the Alabama quarterback prove a first-round value despite limited starting experience at the college football level.
In a draft class that started off strong in 2025, it has dwindled down to 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza and then everyone else. With some of the top prospects like Dante Moore, LaNorris Sellers, John Mateer and Arch Manning returning to school, a QB talent like Simpson could set himself apart as prospect teams will be targeting once the combine is over.
With teams like the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and potentially the Arizona Cardinals with their eyes on a quarterback prize, could Simpson impress enough to send his draft stock vaulting into the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft? On the contrary, could a not so impressive showing drop his stock to a Day 2 pick?
Ty Simpson has an opportunity to increase his NFL Draft stock
Strictly based on his 2025 performance at Alabama, Simpson showcased an elite level of pre-snap recognition which allowed him to adjust post-snap. That pre-read maturity combined with his accuracy and smooth release enhanced Simpson as a high-round pick through most of the season. But he did regress towards the end of the season, which ended with a poor performance in the Rose Bowl and a cracked rib. The brutal end to the 2025 college football season led many to believe Simpson would return to school.
Instead, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound quarterback declared for the draft. That gamble could pay off if he lands on the right team. It can also pay off if he can showcase one of the elements to his game that is considered one of his areas of improvement: Deep Ball consistency.
Again, with just 15 starts at the college football level, Simpson has much room to grow as a quarterback. He showed flashes of leadership and clutch-ability in leading the Crimson Tide to an 11-4 record, but did he show enough to prove to teams he could be a Day 1 starter at the NFL level?
Experience isn’t always everything
In throwing for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions, Simpson took advantage of his opportunity to start. He was impressive in the pocket and showed immense accuracy, which Is noted by ESPS draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. but there is a pause for cause, says Kiper in his assessment of Simpson, who was linked to the Jets in a recent ESPN mock draft.
“Let’s be clear, though: I do have some concerns about Simpson,” Kiper said in his mock draft predictions. “He has 15 career starts, which means this pick would come with a lot of risk. That’s just not enough game experience. We also can’t ignore his dip in performance in the second half of the 2025 season.
“But there’s also no questioning his upside. Simpson has good pocket presence, and he fired 28 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this past season.”
Through his interviews with NFL teams at the NFL Combine, along with his performance in on-the-field activities, can Ty Simpson create the type of buzz that could have him seen as a top 10 pick. Like Kiper Jr. said, Simpson does have a small resume as a starter, but there is also some untapped potential that could set that ceiling even higher. That journey begins at the NFL Scouting Combine.