Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide
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Ty Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to throw the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter in the 2025 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Alabama Crimson Tide will have quite a few players selected in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, but none of those players are more intriguing prospects than standout quarterback Ty Simpson.
Simpson just wrapped up his first season as Alabama’s starting quarterback. At one point during the year, he was a top-tier Heisman Trophy candidate. His production fell off some late in the year, but he’s still viewed as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft class.
While his talent and potential are clear, there are some concerns surrounding the young signal caller. One of those concerns has to do with his lack of starting experience.
Just one season of college football is not an ideal scenario for NFL teams using a first-round pick on a quarterback. That red flag could be something to monitor that might scare off teams with potential interest.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson Faces Concerning News Before NFL Draft
Dane Brugler of The Athletic recently made an appearance on the “Jim Rome Show” and provided a concerning take about Simpson. He sees the lack of experience as a problem for NFL teams.
“He’s difficult because we’re talking about a one-year starter and that’s usually a red flag,” Brugler said. “It’s hard to define one-year starters. Go back the last 15 years, quarterbacks that have less than 20 starts in college, there’s not a lot of track record there. So, Ty Simpson, it’s an uphill climb for him to show that he is the exception to the rule.”
He continued on, revealing what Simpson must do in order to convince NFL teams that he is worthy of being a first-round pick.
“That’s why the combine is so important for Ty Simpson. First, the weigh-ins, just to see how big he is. The medicals are big, he ended the season kind of banged up. And then, the on-field testing, just to see him throw the football.”
What Does Ty Simpson Bring to the Table for an NFL Team?
At the end of the day, Simpson’s numbers during the 2025 college football season for the Crimson Tide cannot be ignored.
Simpson was able to complete 64.5 percent of his pass attempts for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He also chipped in 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
With everyone young quarterback, there are concerns. No rookie signal caller is a guarantee.
NFL teams would be wise to have concerns about Simpson’s lack of experience. However, his talent is through the roof and he has a legitimate chance to be a franchise quarterback in the future.
Expect to continue hearing talk about Simpson and his draft stock. Many mock drafts have him being a first-round pick with the Pittsburgh Steelers being the most popular potential landing spot. He’ll need to have a strong combine to start putting some of these concerns to rest.