2026 NFL draft: An edge rusher for every round
Exploring edge rusher prospects for the 2026 NFL draft, starting with David Bailey.
Nick Saban shared insights on Ty Simpson's potential future in the NFL during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. His comments are seen as a guiding perspective rather than criticism.
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There are opinions⊠and then there are Nick Saban's opinion.
And when Nick Saban speaks on a quarterback, especially one who came through Alabama Crimson Tide football, people should probably listen a little closer.
Thatâs exactly what happened when Saban joined The Pat McAfee Show and talked about Ty Simpson, and if you read between the lines, it wasnât criticism. It was a roadmap.
âTy Simpson is a guy that didnât play as much in college as a lot of these quarterbacks as they develop,â Saban said. âI think maturity would be the word⊠I think he can throw it well enough, I think heâs athletic enough.â
Letâs stop right there.
The greatest college football coach of all time just told you Simpson has the arm and the athleticism. That alone puts him ahead of a lot of prospects. You donât survive in Tuscaloosa, let alone thrive, without elite traits.
Simpson has those. Period.
But Saban didnât sugarcoat the rest, and thatâs what makes his evaluation so valuable.
He pointed to decision-making, processing, pocket awareness⊠the things that donât always show up on a stat sheet but absolutely define whether a quarterback becomes goodâor great. And more importantly, he tied it all back to one word: maturity.
Not age. Not hype. Not NIL deals. Maturity.
âMaturity is nothing more than making the right decision at the right time and that comes with experience and repetition,â Saban said.
Thatâs not a knock on Simpson. Thatâs reality for every quarterback who hasnât had years of starting reps.
Simpson didnât have the luxury of learning through constant in-game mistakes.
Instead, he developed behind the scenes, in practice, in film rooms, and in moments where patience mattered more than playing time.
And if youâve followed Simpsonâs journey, you already know, that patience is part of what makes him dangerous.
Because hereâs the part some people are missing: Saban didnât say Simpson canât be great. He said he needs time to become great.
âHe will get [that experience] and I think be a very good player,â Saban added.
Nick Saban provided insights on Ty Simpson's potential in the NFL, suggesting a positive outlook rather than criticism.
As a respected coach, Nick Saban's opinions carry significant weight, shaping how fans and analysts view Ty Simpson's prospects.
Ty Simpson is a quarterback who played for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he developed under Nick Saban's coaching.
Exploring edge rusher prospects for the 2026 NFL draft, starting with David Bailey.

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Thatâs the takeaway.
Not doubt. Not hesitation. Confidence with a timeline.
Saban even made it clear what Simpson needs next: the right situation.
A place where he can develop, grow, and sharpen those decision-making skills without being thrown into the fire too early.
And honestly? That might be the best thing that could happen to him.
Because quarterbacks who are rushed often break. Quarterbacks who develop? They build something that lasts.
Simpson has already shown flashes of leadership, toughness, and resilience. Heâs handled expectations at Alabama, fought through competition, and still came out the other side with belief in himself.
Now, itâs about refinement.
Itâs about reps.
Itâs about turning raw ability into consistency.
Nick Saban sees it.
That should be enough for everyone else to at least pay attention.
Ty Simpson doesnât need to be rushed. He just needs the opportunity to grow.
And when he does?
Donât be surprised when the same people questioning him now are the ones wondering how they ever doubted him in the first place.