Ty Simpson is widely considered the QB2 in the 2026 NFL Draft behind Fernando Mendoza. However, an experience gap in college football, given he has just 15 career starts at Alabama, raises skepticism among some evaluators about his potential at the next level.
That concern is fueled by the anticipated strength of the 2027 quarterback group, which is expected to feature high-profile talents such as Arch Manning, Dante Moore, LaNorris Sellers, DJ Lagway, and Julian Sayin. With such a promising pool on the horizon, some franchises may opt to pass on Simpson in favor of potentially stronger options next year.
Draft Expert Daniel Jeremiah Sounds Alarm on Ty Simpson’s Outlook
Colin Cowherd was joined by Daniel Jeremiah on “The Herd” this week to discuss the top storylines heading into the NFL Draft. Jeremiah pointed out that one factor potentially working against Simpson is the recent history of quarterback selections and the perceived value of the upcoming 2027 class.
“I think what could hurt Ty a little bit in this one is we only have to go back two years,” Jeremiah said (9:25). “We had six quarterbacks go in the first half of the first round, and you know four of those so far, the returns have been excellent off of four of those guys. So I think there is, and we’ll see if it’s misguided, but there is a lot of hope and belief in next year’s group, just you’re going to have more options at that point in time.”
With only 15 career starts, evaluators have a smaller sample size to assess, though Simpson capped his final season with a second-team All-SEC selection. He finished with an 85.4 score in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric, ranking 25th nationally.
An AFC area scout shared a cautious outlook with ESPN, suggesting Simpson might be better suited as a Day 2 selection. However, the scout also acknowledged that positional demand can still push him into the latter part of the first round, particularly given the lack of elite quarterback depth in this year’s class.
Jeremiah still sees a clear pathway for Simpson in the right situation, as he has identified the Arizona Cardinals as a logical landing spot. According to Jeremiah, Arizona could afford to be patient, either selecting Simpson with pick No. 34 or trading back into the late first round to secure the added benefit of a fifth-year contract option. With the departure of Kyler Murray, the Cardinals have a massive void at the face of the franchise.
Meanwhile, there is a strong personal connection between the Los Angeles Rams’ front office and Simpson’s father. While some doubt the Rams would use a high pick like No. 13 on a backup during a Super Bowl window, mock drafts have projected Simpson to the Rams at that spot to develop behind veteran Matthew Stafford.
