Earlier this week, Ty Simpson headlined Jon Gruden’s annual “Gruden’s QB Class” segment, which highlights the top quarterbacks in each draft class. The legendary coach offered nothing but praise for the University of Alabama player.
Jon Gruden Gave Ty Simpson Lessons Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
During the segment, Gruden praised Simpson’s passing accuracy and leadership skills, which caught the attention of Alabama’s coaching staff. As a result, Simpson has positioned himself as one of the most promising talents in this year’s draft.
However, Gruden found that Simpson needs improvement in his snap count, as the former Alabama quarterback was just used to faking a clap to fool defenses.
“If you really want to be like Aaron Rodgers, you gotta be an actor, you gotta be like Tom Cruise,” Gruden said. “You can’t go get freaking Myles Garrett with a clap.”
You’ll never believe how Ty Simpson got Auburn to jump offsides on this play!
We’re upping our snapcount game on Gruden’s QB Class! pic.twitter.com/sSHeAmT2Hq
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 13, 2026
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, anticipation is building to find out which team Simpson will join in the upcoming NFL season. Among the top contenders are the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Jets. Supporting his strong case, Simpson ranked 25th among college football quarterbacks last year with an impact score of 85.4, according to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metric.
Although Simpson is projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick in several mock drafts, both of the aforementioned franchises have significant needs all over their roster. Furthermore, PFSN currently projects him to be a first-round selection. PFSN also has a detailed scouting report on the Alabama product, which highlights his key attributes.
“One of Simpson’s best traits is his mechanical profile,” the scouting report noted. “He has some of the cleanest throwing form in the class, with consistent sync and hip torque across situations. And in his best moments, he’s shown he can quickly discern coverage voids pre-snap and anticipate over the middle.”
“Simpson waited his turn to start at Alabama, and at his best in 2025, that time developing appeared to have molded him into a clear Round 1 passer,” the report added.
Simpson Is Expected to Be the Second QB Selected
Continuing the trend, in the 2026 Draft, Simpson is the second-best prospect at his position, trailing only Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), who is the favorite to be the first overall pick, according to the latest PFSN’s Mock Draft.
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The Alabama quarterback is highly regarded for his tactical intelligence and arm accuracy, qualities he demonstrated throughout the college football season.
Additionally, Simpson’s background in an elite program like Alabama helps build trust between the player and NFL franchises. Having played under constant pressure and against the best defenses in the country in the SEC, Simpson is better prepared to make his NFL debut, despite having had less time as a starter than other candidates.
