Debates are stirring as we approach the 2026 NFL Draft, and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is among the players drawing plenty of attention, being one of the top shot-callers in the class. The Crimson Tide product has a number of supporters, and analyst Dan Orlovsky is one of its biggest. But the player is not without his detractors.
What did Emmanuel Acho have to say about Orlovsky’s hype?
Emmanuel Acho Challenges Ty Simpson Hype Sides With Fernando Mendoza
Simpson, on most experts’ draft boards, ranks second behind Indiana superstar Fernando Mendoza. Orlovsky, an NFL quarterback with 7 years of experience, is one of the few who believe Simpson is actually better than Mendoza.
Acho, however, had something to say about Orlovsky’s hype around the Alabama quarterback.
“The thing for me with Ty Simpson is in the biggest moments of Ty Simpson’s college career — emphasis on college — he came up short,” Acho criticized on “Speakeasy.” “Conversely, in the biggest moments of Fernando Mendoza’s career, he came up the biggest.”
“@danorlovsky7 is going off of film and Ty Simpson may have the best tape, but Ty Simpson is not currently the best quarterback in the class”
– @EmmanuelAcho responds to Dan Orlovsky’s bold take that Ty Simpson deserves to be drafted ahead of Fernando Mendoza pic.twitter.com/UgPzU7hvZi
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) March 24, 2026
Although Simpson led the Crimson Tide to an 11-4 season and a College Football Playoff run, he frequently looked more like a game manager than a superstar (85.4 PFSN CFB QB Impact). Alabama didn’t dominate games the way it used to, particularly under Nick Saban.
“Ty Simpson played Georgia: a touchdown and a pick,” Acho added. “Ty Simpson played Indiana: no touchdowns, no picks, 12 for 16… Far too often, there were elite college defenses that Ty Simpson didn’t play well against… The dilemma is, as the season went on, and tested your endurance, it tested your physical toughness, and it tested your resolve as a quarterback, Ty Simpson faltered too much.”
Mendoza, on the other hand, took the college landscape by storm, beating the brakes off opponents more often than not to clinch the National Championship. Also winning the Heisman by a staggering 927 points, he finished the season with 3,535 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
“Conversely, Fernando Mendoza, I believe he saw Alabama — five touchdowns, no picks,” Acho argued. “Fernando Mendoza, I believe he saw Ohio State — three touchdowns, no picks… Fernando Mendoza led the losingest program in college football history, the Indiana Hoosiers, all the way to the national championship.”
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It’ll be fascinating to see how Mendoza and Simpson’s respective careers pan out. Alabama has shown a knack for producing NFL stars at quarterback, such as Jalen Hurts. Even players who were seen as game managers, like Mac Jones, ended up carving out respectable careers in the pros.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick, and whether they go for Mendoza or Simpson remains to be seen; however, the Indiana star is the strong favorite at the moment.
