BREAKING NEWS: Alabama Crimson Tide Quarterback Ty Simpson Declares For 2026 NFL Draft
The dust hasn’t even settled on the Hoosier hysteria in Pasadena, and the inevitable roster churn in Tuscaloosa has already begun. In a move that feels both expected and abrupt, Alabama Quarterback Ty Simpson has officially decided to forego his remaining eligibility and declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
For the Crimson Tide faithful, this is a bittersweet pill to swallow. You never want the lasting image of your QB1 to be a sideline view of a blowout loss, but that’s the cruel nature of college football. After taking a shot to the ribs and getting pulled in the third quarter against Indiana, Simpson’s college career ended not with a bang, but with a trainer’s evaluation.
Analyzing Simpson’s Rollercoaster Year
It was a weird year. When Simpson was on, he looked like the Heisman contender we were promised in August. He threw for over 3,500 yards and found the end zone 28 times. Those are serious numbers in the SEC. But the consistency just wasn’t always there.
The highs were dizzying, but the lows, specifically that disaster against Georgia in the SEC Championship and the rough exit in the Rose Bowl, left plenty of scouts scratching their heads. Yet, the NFL doesn’t draft off college box scores; they draft off traits. And Simpson has the arm talent that makes general managers lose sleep thinking about “what could be.”
Where Does Simpson Land on Sundays?
So, where does he go from here? If you listen to the draft gurus, Simpson isn’t waiting long on Day 1. Mel Kiper Jr. has him pegged as the No. 3 quarterback in the class. That is premium real estate.
The mock drafts are all over the map, which makes this fun. You’ve got scenarios where the Arizona Cardinals snatch him up at No. 3 overall. Then you have the romantic football storylines, like the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbing him at No. 20. Imagine Simpson sitting for a year, holding a clipboard and learning the ropes behind a legend like Aaron Rodgers? That is the kind of soft landing spot that saves careers.
The Bottom Line For Alabama
For Kalen DeBoer, the quarterback room just got a lot quieter. Losing a starter always stings, but losing one with Simpson’s ceiling hurts a little more. He leaves Tuscaloosa with an 11-4 record and a playoff appearance, which is a dream season for 99% of programs, but meiocre by Bama standards.
