Alabama QB Ty Simpson announces intention to enter 2026 NFL Draft

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Alabama QB Ty Simpson announced on Wednesday that he intends to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.

The 23-year-old redshirt junior was a one-year starter at Bama, continuing in a long line of NFL-caliber quarterbacks at the school. He led the Crimson Tide to the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff, including a win over Oklahoma. However, the Tide was blown out by Indiana in the quarterfinal, and Simpson exited the game in the third quarter with a rib injury.

In 2025, Simpson completed 305 of 473 passes (64.5%) for 3,567 yards, 28 TDs and five interceptions, also rushing for two TDs in 15 games. Originally committing to Nick Saban at Bama, Simpson served as a reserve behind Bryce Young in 2022 and the backup to Seahawks 2025 third-round pick Jalen Milroe in 2023 and 2024, appearing in 16 games in those three seasons combined, completing 29 of 50 passes for 381 yards and rushing for three scores.

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The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Simpson has a smaller body of work than other quarterbacks expected to be in this class, with only 15 college starts, even if he has vast experience working in Alabama’s talented QB room the previous three years. He also has strong football bloodlines as the son of longtime college coach Jason Simpson, a former Mississippi State QB who has been the head coach at UT Martin for the past 20 seasons.

Simpson’s arm talent, footwork and operational skills all appear to be starter-caliber, even if he’s not considered an elite athlete — and further development also might be needed. He struggled at times late in the regular season and still needs work refining his downfield touch and ball placements, but the elements are all there for him to become an NFL starter in time.

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