The conversation around Ty Simpson has never been simple.
For months, the former Alabama signal-caller has lived in that murky middle tier of the 2026 NFL Draft as a player too talented to ignore, but too inconsistent to fully trust.
Most projections pegged him as a late first-rounder at best, with some evaluators even floating the idea that he could slip into Day 2 depending on team needs and how the board fell.
That's why Monday's moment hit differently.
Appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN insider Adam Schefter didn't hedge. He didn't qualify. He didn't leave wiggle room. He delivered a clean, definitive statement: Simpson will be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“The one thing I can say confidently right now, talking to front offices, is I believe, and it’s not going out on a limb, Ty Simpson will be a first-round draft pick. That’s all I’m comfortable saying right now,” Schefter said.
A former five-star recruit and Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, Simpson arrived at Alabama with sky-high expectations and an elite pedigree.
But instead of starting right away, he spent three seasons buried on the depth chart, developing behind future NFL talent like Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe.
When his moment finally came in 2025, he delivered, at least in flashes.
Simpson threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions while completing 64.5% of his passes, leading Alabama to an 11–4 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
At his best, he looked like a modern NFL quarterback: mobile, creative, and decisive.
But the full-season story was more volatile.
Simpson started hot, dominating early stretches of the schedule, before cooling off late in the year with declining efficiency and tougher outings against elite defenses.
That inconsistency, paired with just one full season as a starter, has been the biggest sticking point for scouts.
With that first-round status now feeling like a lock, the focus shifts to where Simpson lands.
Teams like the New York Jets have been heavily linked, particularly in the mid-first round.
New York holds multiple premium picks, including No. 2 overall and No. 16, giving them flexibility to either take a quarterback early or position themselves strategically later in the round.
The Arizona Cardinals have also emerged as a potential trade-up candidate. Sitting at No. 34 overall, they could look to move into the first round if they identify Simpson as a long-term answer under center.
Beyond that, keep an eye on quarterback rooms in transition, like the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns.
These are the types of situations where Simpson wouldn't be forced onto the field immediately, giving him time to develop while still offering long-term upside at the most important position in sports.
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