NFL Scout Thinks Alabama's Ty Simpson Could be No. 20 Pick

There was a time following Alabama's loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl where it was unclear what quarterback Ty Simpson would do for the 2026 season. 

With Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer bringing in young quarterback talent, it seemed like Simpson would transfer to another college program if he didn't think he'd be a high enough draft pick in April.

However, Simpson's dad, longtime UT-Martin head coach Jason Simpson, seemed to get enough reassurance from league front offices that the young quarterback would be taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

That seems like a safe bet at this point, especially after Dante Moore chose to return to Oregon for the upcoming season. Most NFL people have Simpson as the No. 2 quarterback in the class, only behind Indiana's Fernando Mendoza.

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to take Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in April. Just based on recent history of the draft, it seems unlikely another quarterback would not be taken in the next 31 selections.

It is the most important position in football, after all.

ESPN's Jordan Reid quoted an AFC scout who grades Simpson as a Day 2 quarterback, but thinks he could go as high as No. 20.

"I wouldn't draft him until Day 2, but I think he has a chance to go in that 20-32 range," the scout said. "It's because the demand will highly outweigh the quality of supply in this year's class."

There are some serious issues for teams to consider with Simpson. Reid thinks Simpson needs to work on getting the ball out of his hands faster.

"Simpson sometimes doesn't recognize when a play is over," Reid wrote. "He tends to hold the ball longer than necessary and run around in circles in the pocket while trying to extend plays that are clearly busted. 

"Therefore, he loses yardage with negative plays that could have been avoided by checking down, running, or tossing the ball out of bounds."

These are issues that caused Moore to return to Oregon, despite the fact that he could have been a top-five pick in the draft.

Simpson is betting on himself, and he could be taken earlier than No. 20. Just looking at the board, it seems safe to assume the quarterback would be at least taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21.

However, the New York Jets need a quarterback, despite trading for Geno Smith this week. The Jets have two picks in the first round, and one could easily see the team trying to take Simpson with the No. 16 pick, if they think he can be the guy.