Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterback Ty Simpson had a Rose Bowl Classic he’d just as soon forget. Simpson started for the Crimson Tide, only to get sidelined due to injury.
And, to add insult to injury, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers delivered a 38-3 beatdown at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Simpson was 12-of-16 for 67 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and finished with a QBR of 60.6.
It’s enough to make Simpson think about turning pro. That’s one option he is considering at this point.
What Does the Future Hold For Alabama QB Ty Simpson?
On Monday, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Field Yates posted on X about the possibility of Simpson choosing to join the NFL ranks.
Ty Simpson may wind up declaring for the NFL Draft.
The second half of his season was shaky, but in a weak QB class, there’s a pathway for him to be a top 2 or 3 QB taken. https://t.co/r3Hq3qLhnV
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 5, 2026
“Ty Simpson may wind up declaring for the NFL Draft,” Yates wrote. “The second half of his season was shaky, but in a weak QB class, there’s a pathway for him to be a top 2 or 3 QB taken.”
While Yates sent that out on X, he also shared another post from ESPN College Football Senior Writer Pete Thamel that offers a little more insight into Simpson’s current situation.
“Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson hasn’t made a decision yet on what he’ll do in 2026, according to Peter Webb, his sports marketing agent,” Thamel wrote on Monday. “The NFL looms as the most likely option, but nothing has been decided.”
According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact metrics, Simpson finished with an impact score of 85.4 and graded out to a B. For the season, Simpson had a 64.3% pass completion average and threw for 3,268 total yards. He also had 26 touchdown passes compared to just five interceptions.
Simpson averaged 251.4 yards passing per game for Alabama, too. He also had two rushing touchdowns for the season, but he’s not really looked upon as a natural dual-threat quarterback.
With the 2026 NFL Draft quarterback options pretty slim, Simpson might find a way to impress NFL scouts enough to garner some attention. If Simpson does decide to go the pro route, then it will be interesting to see if he even gets a starting role with the team that drafts him.
Maybe Simpson gets drafted and spends a season learning behind a veteran NFL signal-caller. That, though, remains to be seen.
