Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson has landed himself a rather polarizing take heading into the NFL Draft.
The general expectation is that Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson will enter the 2026 NFL Draft, although his dip in performance in recent weeks has some feeling he may return to school.
If Simpson does declare, he will almost certainly be one of the first three signal-callers off the board, with Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Oregon's Dante Moore being the other two.
But is Simpson actually NFL-ready?
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus seems to have questions. While he has Simpson ranked No. 1 among all quarterback prospects in this year's class, he is just 20th overall on Sikkema's list, and Sikkema isn't sure Simpson is prepared for the rigors of the professional level.
"Simpson has the foundational tools of a future NFL quarterback, including mobility and escapability. However, he currently lacks live-game experience, consistency, and the ability to anticipate and process at a high level," Sikkema wrote. "He's still a developmental prospect with physical upside, but he must grow mentally and mechanically to reach his potential."
Simpson's numbers as a whole look good, as he has thrown for 3,268 yards, 26 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 64.3 percent of his passes. However, it's hard to ignore how much his production has plummeted late in the year.
The 22-year-old looked overwhelmed against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, going just 19-for-39. Four of his five picks have come in the last four games. He's thrown for well under 200 yards twice in that span.
What exactly is going on with Simpson? Is the pressure simply getting to him? Is he merely in a slump? Or is there something else going on that we aren't aware of?
Whatever the case may be, there is a case for Simpson to return to Alabama for another season. If he flames out in the College Football Playoff, his stock will drop even further, which could result in Simpson cashing in on his final year of eligibility for 2026.
Simpson had thrown a grand total of 29 passes before this season, so it's entirely possible the young signal-caller still requires some seasoning.
We'll see what Simpson does against Oklahoma on Dec. 19.