The Las Vegas Raiders hold the keys to the NFL Draft and need a franchise quarterback. Most analysts expect them to select Indiana star Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. Former Las Vegas head coach Jon Gruden has thrown a different perspective on it with his Ty Simpson take.
Jon Gruden Hypes Up Ty Simpson Ahead of NFL Draft
“When you watch Ty Simpson play when he’s healthy, he’s the real deal, man,” Gruden declared on his Barstool platform this Monday.
“When you watch [Ty] Simpson play when he’s healthy, he’s the real deal man.” – @BarstoolGruden pic.twitter.com/vjAnKkoNh9
— Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) April 6, 2026
Gruden loves quarterbacks who can push the ball vertically under duress. Simpson showcased that trait during his 2025 campaign as the full-time starter for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He possesses a live arm and high-end pocket mobility.
Simpson led Alabama to an 11-4 record and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2025. He operated a complex offensive system and made throws outside the numbers. When the pocket held up, he looked like a top-tier professional prospect.
The primary concern surrounding the Alabama quarterback is physical. He took hits during the Southeastern Conference schedule. Evaluators watched his mechanics deteriorate late in the season as the hits piled up. As a result, he ended as the 25th-ranked quarterback in the nation, per PFSN’s CFB QB Impact.
Gruden included a caveat in his endorsement. The health factor dictates Simpson’s professional ceiling. His 6-foot-1, 211-pound frame raises questions about his ability to survive a 17-game professional schedule.
NFL front offices are often wary of investing draft capital into players with limited track records. Simpson logged 15 career starts in college, all during his 2025 campaign. That lack of live game experience presents a learning curve against complex professional defensive schemes.
The historical success rate for quarterbacks with fewer than 20 collegiate starts remains a talking point in draft rooms. Anthony Richardson and Trey Lance both entered the league with physical gifts and minimal experience. Front offices must weigh that history against Simpson’s flashes of brilliance.
Front offices will spend the next few weeks arguing over these profiles. Teams wanting a high floor may look to Mendoza, the Heisman winner who led Indiana to an undefeated regular season and a national title. Teams chasing a superstar ceiling may gamble on the Alabama product.
However, PFSN’s T.J. Randall has Simpson going to the Arizona Cardinals as the 34th pick in his latest mock draft. He writes, “A strong level of smoke surrounds the Arizona Cardinals and their connection to Simpson. The second quarterback is finally off the board for a franchise in need of a youth infusion. Even if it’s not at 34, don’t be surprised to see Arizona leave the NFL Draft with Simpson.”
