Ty Simpson and the Alabama Crimson Tide suffered a tough 23-21 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners in Tuscaloosa last week, snapping their eight-game streak. The loss has now made their route to the College Football Playoff far more challenging.
Analysts such as ESPN’s Paul Finebaum think the loss to Oklahoma may have also ended Simpson’s chances in the Heisman race. Meanwhile, the quarterback’s draft stock seems to have taken a significant fall recently.
Ty Simpson Gets Brutal Draft Projection Following the Oklahoma Loss
Simpson has been largely viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft; however, sports commentator Colin Cowherd gave an underwhelming assessment of the Alabama quarterback’s skill set and draft outlook on Monday.
“I don’t see the traits (in him),” Cowherd said. “I am a trait guy. I don’t care what your record was in college. Josh Allen couldn’t win in college. (Patrick) Mahomes got a losing record. I don’t really care. The bottom line is, you’ve got to. I have to say wow at something. Like, Kyler Murray may not be a great NFL quarterback, but I’m watching him run around and I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s better than Russell Wilson.’ That’s wow.”
“Ty Simpson’s fine, but it’s kind of a JJ McCarthy thing. Surrounded by good players. There’s not a single trait where I’m like, ‘that’s the first round.’ Ty Simpson’s draftable. To me, he feels like a mid-late second round guy.”
This season, Simpson has thrown for 2,787 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just two interceptions, and is ranked 17th on PFSN’s CFB QB rankings with an impact score of 90.7.
However, in the loss to Oklahoma, he completed 28 of 42 passes for one touchdown and one interception. Simpson couldn’t find a rhythm when Alabama needed it in the game, was sacked four times, and continued to struggle with ball security.
Nicholas Rome’s latest NFL Mock Draft on Saturday Blitz projects Simpson sliding to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21. In the Steelers, he would eventually take over for four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.
“If the Steelers choose to roll with Rodgers again in 2026, it would be smart to pick a quarterback to learn behind him,” Rome wrote. “Ty Simpson has shown a ton of promise this season, and he’d be best served by continuing to learn, especially behind a quarterback like Rodgers.”
As a redshirt junior, Simpson will have to decide whether to declare for the 2026 draft or return to Alabama. The 2026 quarterback class is expected to be loaded, with top prospects such as Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore.
Meanwhile, with an 8-2 record, Simpson’s Alabama is set to host the 3-8 Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
