Ty Simpson is another name alongside Fernando Mendoza as a projected Round 1 pick. But it is not as simple as stamping that label and moving on. There are layers to it, and it needs addressing. And while Rich Eisen views Simpson in a positive light, he is not ready to jump all the way in without a closer look at the Alabama product.
Rich Eisen’s Pragmatic View on Ty Simpson’s Draft Value
On the latest episode of “The Rich Eisen Show”, a caller raised a familiar draft-season question around Ty Simpson, focusing on his limited starting experience but also his decision to stay at Alabama through adversity, from sitting behind Jalen Milroe to navigating coaching changes in an era where transferring is often the easier path.
Eisen acknowledged that those intangibles, loyalty, patience, and what he loosely framed as stick-to-itiveness, will appeal to evaluators.
He said, “Do you think GMs look at that as something very favorable? Maybe, I don’t know, looking at his draft stock, I guess. I mean, what loyalty? Or stick-to-itiveness or sure.
“I’m sure there are many other traits. This is why I want him on. I would love to kick the tires on Ty Simpson in a manner in which I’m sure not going to put him on a grease board or anything like that, but just to see what’s going on under the hood.
“I’m sure there are many terrific qualities that are intangibles that teams are going to fall in love with. But it’s all got to match the tape though. It’s not only the lack of experience, but it’s the experience that he had in the back half of his year in Alabama. That’s the evaluation.
“It’s just like how much have we seen that we can extrapolate to the professional level, what makes us feel comfortable to actually use a first-round pick on him and capital to get back potentially in the first round to go get him, combined with how much the end of his season, although he did win a playoff game, how much the end of his season and plays and his health and to overlook some of his experiences there.”
Eisen acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the draft. It only takes one front office to buy in. And while he suggested that many suitors may currently be struggling to place Simpson firmly in the first round, he also left room for that narrative to shift as teams finalize their boards, with some potentially keeping their true evaluations close to the vest.
That’s just a contrast to the comfortable situation Fernando Mendoza is in. He is projected to go out as the No. 1 overall to the Raiders. And that’s it! What’s next? Simpson’s a hard one to project anywhere near Top 10.
So, the gap between the QB1 and QB2 of the 2026 Draft is unreal, but it’s not surprising. Simpson made just 15 starts in college, often playing second fiddle during his Alabama career. When healthy last season, he led the Crimson Tide to an 11-4 record, an SEC Championship Game appearance, and a return to the College Football Playoff, while briefly entering the Heisman conversation before injuries slowed him down.
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Simpson’s 2025 campaign was anything but smooth. A lower back injury, elbow bursitis, and even a bout of gastritis that caused significant weight loss all played a role in his late-season dip. A rib injury then forced him out of the Rose Bowl against Indiana.
Even so, he still produced, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while adding 93 rushing yards and two scores. He finished with a PFSN College QB Impact score of 85.4, ranking 25th, which only adds to the intrigue Eisen is talking about.
