Ty Simpson entered the 2026 NFL Draft season with an unclear evaluation, but his stock has steadily risen over the last few months. Following an impressive performance at the NFL Combine, he is now viewed as a top quarterback prospect in this year’s class alongside Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Ty Simpson Receives Draft Advice From Former Alabama Stars
With less than three weeks remaining until draft day, the conversation surrounding Simpson continues to intensify. There is increasing discussion that the Alabama product could be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
During Monday’s episode of “The Dynasty” podcast, both AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson cautioned Simpson that in the NFL, landing with the right organization matters more than draft position.
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“I’m rooting for him,” McCarron said. “I hope he gets picked as high as possible, but if I’m him, I would rather not worry so much about where I’m getting picked rather than the location and organization I’m getting chosen to. I think people forget about that aspect of the draft and put so much hype into where you get picked and selected, but I’ve seen a lot of dudes’ careers end early because they got picked by the wrong team.”
Simpson conducted private workouts with multiple teams, including the New York Jets, who have been linked to him in draft discussions. The Jets hold the No. 2 and No. 16 picks, giving them flexibility in the early rounds. However, some mock drafts have suggested Simpson could be available later in the first round.
The Arizona Cardinals pick at No. 3, which is another possible destination for a quarterback as they continue rebuilding following the departure of Kyler Murray this offseason. That selection would be their highest since taking Murray first overall in 2019. The Los Angeles Rams at No. 13 could also be in play for Simpson.
Regardless of where Simpson lands, Richardson also offered advice about choosing the right situation, saying:
“If you’re not at the right spot, if he’ll go on top three, he’ll go on top five. You go to the worst teams, right, and you don’t have the same guys around you. I think that’s what we have been saying on this show, that it was never his athletic ability. He can throw the ball, but the ups and downs, and you know, getting hit in the mouth and having to pick up a team that’s not as solid as you know, they were a year before, that’s not as good, and it’s not having a lot of success. Like, the mental part of it is the biggest thing, especially in the NFL.
“If you’re not the guy that they’re trying to put these millions that they quote-unquote put these millions behind, and you hear the outside talk, the chatter, and you know, that could be a problem. The key is don’t have to grow up fast.
“If you go to the top three really fast, and it’s not just him. It’s going to be a circle. That’s not taking a shot. It’s just you know, being aware and you know, helping them out because at the same time I went through this and I can only tell you my experience that I went through and you know being so vulnerable to the fans and into the social media world, man, it can eat you up.”
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Simpson completed 64.6% of his passes for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025. He ended the season with an 85.4 grade in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric, ranking No. 25 nationally.
There are also questions about his limited experience, having only 15 career starts at Alabama. Where Simpson ultimately lands in the draft and with which organization remains one of the more interesting storylines to follow.
