Ty Simpson has already announced his intention to enter the NFL, preparing to transition to the professional ranks. He is predicted to be one of the top five quarterbacks selected in the 2026 NFL Draft this April. However, declaring for the draft does not prevent Simpson from changing his mind and withdrawing if he chooses.
Ty Simpson’s $6.5 Million Decision Draws Reaction From Former Alabama Star
Multiple reports have now claimed that Simpson has been offered multi-million-dollar deals to bypass the NFL Draft and return to college football, potentially entering the transfer portal.
On Monday’s “The Dynasty” podcast, former Alabama star Trent Richardson responded to Simpson’s decision to declare for the NFL Draft while reflecting on his own choice to turn pro in 2012.
“You know, everything Ty has done for the school, you know, just staying there,” Richardson said. “It takes a lot to sit there. I’m going to stay in one spot and, you know, fight my way up and wait my turn, especially with the NIL stuff. I think, just going into making that decision, for me at the time, I was really big on, was Eddie (Lacy) ready? Like, I know what Mark (Ingram) handed me. Like, I know, like, the leadership role, and I knew him winning the Heisman, him winning the National Championship, as they started running back, those were big shoes to fill.
“And I used to always ask Eddie, like, you know, ‘hey, all right, man, you ready or not?’ And he’s all, man, go ahead and go to the lead, this and that, man, you all got it, this and that. So when I wasn’t sure about him and my situation, when I had kids in high school, I had two girls, and I had to go.”
Richardson was selected third overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft, making him the highest-drafted running back since Reggie Bush in 2006. However, after his rookie season, his performance declined sharply, and he is now labeled an NFL bust. His experience demonstrates the challenges of transitioning from college football to the NFL.
As for Simpson’s discussion, reports indicate he has received a $6.5 million offer from Miami, along with $4 million offers from both Ole Miss and Tennessee, per Tuscaloosa News’ Colin Gay. The rise of NIL and the transfer portal has created a new recruiting pathway for college programs, and Richardson offered a strong take on the trend.
“If it were the NIL today, I would’ve stayed, because there wasn’t any reason to rush to the NFL,” Richardson said. “You know, talking about a kid who didn’t have anything, and his face is everywhere around the world, and we’re making a dang dollar off of it. And so you look at those numbers, and you look at what you could be making, and what they’re making today.
“It’s like, man, if they would’ve had this, I would’ve got a PhD. Just going into that decision, where’s your name gonna be called? Where is it floating around? And what teams need my type of talent? What do I bring to the stage? And, it ain’t always good going top three or top five or top 10 all the time.
“You get to a situation where you gotta fix right now, and they want you to win right now, and you might be in a messed-up situation. I know the money might be good, but at the same time, man, you get to these, you get these kids that’s, you know, 20, 21, and 22, that’s never had to experience that type of pressure. And because it’s a different pressure.”
Simpson led Alabama to the College Football Playoff in his first year as a starting quarterback in 2025. He threw for 3,567 yards this season, recording 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions.
Simpson currently owns an 85.4 rating in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric and is viewed as the third-best quarterback on the draft board, trailing Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore. Still, questions remain about whether Moore will ultimately declare for the draft.
