Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has been one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. After a storming start to the season with the Crimson Tide, Simpson’s production fell off a cliff as a creaking Crimson Tide limped to the SEC Championship Game and clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff.
After an impressive performance at the NFL Combine a few weeks ago, Simpson seemed to have redeemed his draft stock, but he continues to yo-yo in several mock drafts.
Colin Cowherd Details Ty Simpson’s Concerns Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
During Sunday’s segment of the “Colin Cowherd” podcast, Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd and John Middlekauff debated over whether the Arizona Cardinals should select Simpson with the third pick on draft night.
“I feel like, to replace Kyler (Murray), Ty Simpson is it. You’re not gonna have any issues coming from Kalen DeBoer and Nick Saban,” Cowherd said. “I think one of the more interesting players in the first round is Ty Simpson, because I think he probably grades out at about 35-40, but if you’re Arizona with the third pick, trade down and get Simpson.”
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Middlekauff was not convinced about Simpson’s draft pedigree, and he listed his concerns, including Simpson’s injury history and teams’ use of high picks on the former Alabama quarterback on draft night.
“I’m never a guy, the Ty Simpson types. I can’t take these types in the first round,” Middlekauff said. “To me, Ty Simpson, there’s a physical limitation. You have to check some boxes for me to pull the trigger. One-year starter, did have a good stretch and then he got a little banged up. To me, historically, those guys went after pick 50.”
Ty Simpson’s 2025 Injury History
Simpson navigated last season amid a myriad of injuries. The quarterback dealt with lower back pain after a hit sustained during the Crimson Tide’s win against the South Carolina Gamecocks in October. He also had gastritis in November due to anti-inflammatory medication to help with his lower back injury, causing him to lose approximately 20 pounds.
He wore a right arm sleeve during the Crimson Tide’s blowout loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game due to elbow bursitis. Most famously, Simpson finished his college football career on the sideline after a hit late in the first half of the Rose Bowl against the Indiana Hoosiers left him with a cracked rib, forcing him out early in the second half after he attempted to return for one series following halftime.
For long stretches of last season, Simpson was among the heavy favorites to win the Heisman Trophy before his production tailed off. He still managed to earn a PFSN College QB Impact score of 85.4 after registering 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while adding 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
