Is it just draft smoke and mirrors, or did Alabama's Ty Simpson really leave that big of an impression at Pro Day?
The consensus top pick in the 2026 NFL draft has been Indiana Hoosiers’ national champion and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who would presumably be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick. Now, there’s nothing to really say that that’s changed, and this is the time of the year where draft fodder runs wild. But Alabama Crimson Tide signal caller Ty Simpson certainly caught some eyes at his Pro Day, where he conducted a 40-plus minute throwing session in front of scouts and decision-makers and made a considerable impression. It’s not to say that Dan Orlovsky’s somewhat inflammatory comments are correct, in that of 15 NFL GMs he texted, only two disagreed that Simpson wasn’t QB1. However, there were several attendees that saw traits in Simpson that they’d put above Mendoza.
It was a closer Heisman race than some might remember during the first half of the season, as Simpson was giving Mendoza a run for his money until he had several injuries bring down his production midseason, which included gastritis that led to him being below 200 pounds before the College Football Playoff. That also dinged his draft position a bit as well. He completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Here is the full story from Bama Roundtable writer Greg Liodice on the draft discourse that’s bumping up Simpson as of late.
According to ESPN, the New York Jets, at Nos. 2 and 16, and the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13 are the ones to watch for Simpson, having met with both.