Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was one of the most impressive on-field performers at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis last month. Simpson has often been predicted to be the second quarterback off the board after former Indiana Hoosiers standout Fernando Mendoza on draft night.
Simpson is one of the most polarizing prospects in a draft class that is notoriously light on quarterback talent.
Ty Simpson Reveals Pro Day Goals
After an impressive NFL Draft Combine showing, Simpson revealed on Thursday’s segment of the “Up & Adams” show what he hoped to showcase to scouts during Alabama’s Pro Day on March 25.
“First of all, my feet are gonna be dialled in from under center all types of nuanced drops,” Simpson said. “Just any type of play action that shows my ability to go under center. Second off, it’s throwing the ball down the field. I thought this year whether it was intermediate passes or anything between the hashes, I did really well.
“But I wanna show my arm strength. I wanna throw downfield, throw to guys 50 yards in the air. And then my athleticism, I wanna be able to move around the pocket and throw on the run.”
Despite the criticism about Simpson’s athleticism outside the pocket, the former Alabama quarterback managed seven touchdowns from outside the pocket during the 2025 season, a testament to his improvisational ability behind an often-collapsing offensive line.
Simpson Ranks Second Among 2026 Quarterback Prospects
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid listed Simpson as the second-best quarterback in the 2026 class, just behind former Indiana star Fernando Mendoza, in his latest quarterback rankings. Reid praised the traits that make Simpson one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class.
“There isn’t a throw that Simpson feels that he’s incapable of making, as his toughness and confidence shined in spurts. Ty’s football smarts and awareness are easy to see,” Reid wrote. “Simpson was given a lot of pre-snap autonomy and was frequently seen altering protections and plays.
“His recognition of defenses is well beyond a typical QB prospect with 15 career starts. Simpson is an underrated athlete whose pocket maneuverability is among the best of any passer in this year’s class. He also can make plays outside of structure. He’s savvy with recognizing and adjusting to pre-snap looks.”
Simpson was one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy during the 2025 season and earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 85.4. He finished his sole season as a starter for the Crimson Tide with 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions while adding 93 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
