Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has become one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. After a single season as a starter under center for the Crimson Tide, Simpson is one of a few quarterbacks in the running to be picked in the first round of the draft due to a dearth of talent in his position group.
ESPN Analyst Issues Bleak Ty Simpson Draft Prediction
In the last few weeks, Simpson’s draft stock has plunged and skyrocketed as analysts and fans seem to disagree over whether his potential will translate favorably in the NFL.
During Tuesday’s segment of “Get Up,” ESPN analyst Peter Schrager expressed doubts about Simpson being picked by any team in the first round of the NFL Draft later this month.
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“This is not a knock on Ty Simpson, I don’t have a team for Ty Simpson,” Schrager said. “The teams that make sense would be the Jets or Arizona. Ty Simpson isn’t going No. 2 or 3. They have the No. 33 and No. 34 picks, they can wait and take him there. I don’t see Cleveland taking him. Simpson might be a very good player.
“He might be the No. 1 quarterback in this draft, according to some. I don’t have him in the first round of this draft. I’m not gonna do the viewers an injustice and just make up a trade. I don’t see a team for him right now.”
Former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been hailed as the undisputed QB1 in the 2026 NFL Draft class, with Simpson often predicted to be the second quarterback off the board on draft night.
Simpson only accumulated 15 starts in college football, often playing second fiddle during his Alabama career. When he was fit last year, he led the Crimson Tide on a run that culminated in an SEC championship game appearance and a return to the 12-team College Football Playoff field.
He led Alabama to an 11-4 record and, midway through the season, he was one of the favorites to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy before tailing off due to a lower back injury and elbow bursitis.
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In addition, he had to deal with a bout of gastritis that led to him losing a significant amount of weight and ultimately sustained a rib injury that forced him out of the Rose Bowl game against the Indiana Hoosiers.
He earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 85.4 after registering 3,567 passing yards, resulting in 28 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Alabama last season.
