Ty Simpson declares for 2026 NFL draft: QB class implications

A big domino in the 2026 NFL Draft fell Wednesday, with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson declaring himself in favor of the upcoming draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh. Simpson had a breakthrough junior season with the Crimson Tide, throwing for 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdown passes and five interceptions to help Alabama advance to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.

Now that he’s in the draft, where does Simpson rank among the 2026 quarterback prospects? Is he the next QB after Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore (assuming they declare)? Where might this place Simpson in the class? And what kind of impact will Simpson’s decision have on Alabama; Who could be the Crimson Tide’s next signal caller?

ESPN NFL draft experts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller answered questions about Simpson’s place in the NFL, while senior college football reporter Adam Rittenberg weighed in on what’s next for the Crimson Tide and head coach Kalen DeBoer.

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Next steps for Alabama

What are Simpson’s greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Reid: Despite only 15 college starts, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound Simpson already functions like a veteran at the line of scrimmage. Because of his ability to quickly diagnose coverages, fronts and blitzes, he had a lot of freedom pre-snap with Alabama to make sounds at the line of scrimmage and change protections. He also showed an advanced understanding of where his hot routes were.

Simpson has slightly above average arm strength, which allows him to comfortably attack and operate in the short and intermediate areas of the field. And he’s at his best when he’s able to utilize play action, thanks to his ease in showing his back to the line of scrimmage and then quickly resetting his eyes to scan the defense.

Simpson is an interesting assessment. For one, he has a smaller sample size of starts than most quarterbacks entering the draft. On the other hand, he is 23 years old and spent four years in Alabama. The evaluators I spoke with have second-day grades on Simpson, who had an up-and-down season in which he struggled in the Tide’s season-opening loss, had a strong September and October, and then showed quite a bit of inconsistency down the stretch. He needs to develop better accuracy from deep, which has been hit or miss throughout the season. Simpson has a slim figure and features that depend on those around him.

Opinions are mixed, as evaluators are unsure whether he is a franchise quarterback capable of leading a team to victory or whether he needs considerable support around him to succeed.

When could he be drafted, and what does Simpson’s statement mean for the QB class as a whole?

Miller: Due to his lack of starting experience, the pre-draft process will be extremely important for Simpson. Without weighing the impact of future interviews and pre-workouts, Simpson looks like a late first-round talent on tape and is currently ranked as my No. 3 quarterback behind Mendoza and Moore. He could easily move up from late first-rounder status once he gets in front of teams and shows his skills, but his lack of starts (25 is considered the baseline for success by many NFL scouts) could cause him to fall to Day 2.

Mid-to-late first-round teams with quarterback needs could elevate Simpson’s position in the draft, a dynamic we see almost every draft cycle. The franchises to watch in this portion of the draft are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns, who hold the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick due to the trade they made on draft day last April. The Rams are a particularly intriguing pick, as the presence of Matthew Stafford would allow Simpson to sit and learn for at least a year before being thrust into a starting situation.

Simpson’s inclusion in this draft potentially adds a third quarterback in the first round, but he’ll need to convince teams on the whiteboard and in meetings to solidify that status.

What now for Alabama? What is the Crimson Tide’s plan under center?

Rittenberg: Alabama is preparing for Simpson’s eventual departure. While a portal quarterback is never out of the question, Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will likely look internally for Simpson’s replacement.

Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer and his team from Washington to Alabama in early 2024, has been a reserve the past two seasons, with 35 career pass attempts for 228 passing yards and two touchdowns with the Tide. He replaced the injured Simpson in Alabama’s Rose Bowl loss to Indiana. Mack will be a redshirt junior next season.

However, freshman Keelon Russell will likely enter the offseason as the favorite to start in 2026. Russell was the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2025 class and was committed to SMU before Alabama switched his commitment the summer before National Signing Day. A dynamic dual threat from Duncanville, Texas, Russell completed 11 of 15 passes for 143 passing yards and two touchdowns in just two games this season. Quarterback rookies of Russell’s caliber typically don’t wait multiple seasons to start, so he will likely be the first to become Simpson’s heir apparent.