FOX Sports college football analyst Robert Griffin III is weighing in on the growing debate surrounding ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky’s evaluation of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, and his response is adding fuel to an already active pre-draft conversation.
Orlovsky recently made headlines by calling Simpson the top quarterback in this year’s NFL draft class during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up. The take surprised many, as Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has widely been projected as the top overall pick. Orlovsky defended his stance by pointing to Simpson’s ability to deliver in high-pressure moments and carry his team.
Soon after, questions surfaced regarding a potential conflict of interest. Both Orlovsky and Simpson are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), leading some to question whether that connection influenced the evaluation. Orlovsky denied those claims on The Pat McAfee Show, saying he was not asked to promote Simpson and had no ulterior motive
Griffin, however, took issue with both the evaluation and the process behind it.
“Everybody is entitled to feel how they feel and have an opinion on who they think the best quarterback is and how they rank them,” Griffin said on social media. “But when you go about it in a way that’s discrediting Fernando Mendoza… It’s worse than stepping out of the back of the end zone.”
Griffin’s criticism did not stop at the comparison between quarterbacks. He also addressed how analysts approach film study during the draft process, suggesting that intent can shape conclusions.
“Watching the film is essential to evaluating people in the draft process,” he said. “But when you go into the film trying to find something, you end up finding things that lead you down a dangerous path.”
That point led directly into Griffin’s broader concern about perception and credibility. While he did not directly accuse Orlovsky of bias, he acknowledged why others have raised questions given the shared representation.
“Film watching is important, and all the top analysts do it,” Griffin added. “But you can’t go into watching that film trying to find something to say to sound interesting on TV. That is why people are saying Dan Orlovsky might be doing something. Because him and Ty Simpson are represented by the same agency, CAA. Whether you do that to be true or not. The bottom line is, it looks like that way”
Griffin emphasized that whether the connection is meaningful or not, the optics matter.
“The things that he is saying as to why he’s ranking Ty Simpson over Fernando Mendoza. Everyone who has watched the tape and the games and didn’t go into it trying to find something says it doesn’t make sense,” said Griffin.
Everyone is allowed to have an opinion on who they think the #1 QB is in this year NFL Draft, but trying to discredit the fact that nobody made more big time/crunch time throws than Fernando Mendoza in College Football last year or played in bigger games is worse than stepping… pic.twitter.com/u30Ihxy64X
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 25, 2026
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