Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is gaining attention as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, drawing comparisons to Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. His stock is debated due to the current quarterback landscape and his potential as a long-term NFL starter.
Key points
Ty Simpson is a top quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.
He is compared to Brock Purdy and Mac Jones.
Fernando Mendoza is the top quarterback in the draft.
Only one other quarterback may be a first-round pick.
Simpson's stock is debated due to quarterback landscape.
Fernando Mendoza is considered the clear-cut top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the position gets messy after the Indiana star.
Unlike 2024, when six quarterbacks were selected within the top 12 picks, only one other quarterback appears to have a serious chance of landing in the first round: Alabama's Ty Simpson.
Is Simpson's stock as high as it is simply because of quarterback desperation, or could he actually turn into a long-term NFL starter?
Here's a look at Simpson's best and worst qualities, as well as his NFL comparisons.
Drafting any quarterback is a gamble, but drafting a quarterback with only one season of real college experience is historically even riskier. Not only does Simpson have only one year as a starter under his belt, but he looked like an NFL quarterback for only about half of it.
After a hot start to 2025, Simpson cooled down considerably late in the season. His accuracy declined, and he started to find himself in a bit of turnover trouble after doing a tremendous job of keeping the ball out of harm's way early in the season, even against some outstanding defenses.
Q&A
What makes Ty Simpson a top quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft?
Ty Simpson is considered a top prospect due to his skills and potential to be a long-term NFL starter, especially in a draft class with limited quarterback options.
How does Ty Simpson compare to Brock Purdy and Mac Jones?
Ty Simpson is drawing comparisons to Brock Purdy and Mac Jones based on his playing style and potential impact in the NFL.
Who is the clear-cut top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Fernando Mendoza is regarded as the clear-cut top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Why is there quarterback desperation in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The quarterback desperation stems from a lack of elite prospects beyond Fernando Mendoza, making Ty Simpson's potential more significant.
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Simpson battled nagging injuries as well as gastritis down the stretch. In theory, a healthy Simpson should look more like the player Alabama fans saw in the first half of last season. The burning question, though, is whether Simpson's slight frame will make him more susceptible to injuries as he makes the jump to the NFL. At 6-1 and 211 pounds, Simpson would rank among the smaller NFL starters.
Simpson has solid arm strength, but it doesn't jump off the page. His best quality might be his ability to make wise decisions and limit turnovers, which can allow quarterbacks with physical limitations to carve out long NFL careers as backups or spot starters. Despite the late-season bumps, Simpson's accuracy is considered a plus, and he has the arm to sling the ball a bit while still having the football IQ to take what defenses give him.
After Simpson had a hard time handling pressure late last season and saw it cost him physically, there are questions about how he would hold up against even bigger and stronger players in the NFL — and whether his solid traits as a passer are enough to overcome those concerns.
Simpson's slight frame compares well to 49ers QB Brock Purdy, who is listed at 6-1 and 220 pounds, nine pounds heavier than the Alabama prospect. Simpson and Purdy both have enough athleticism to move around well, but there are concerns that come with taking major hits at that size.
Purdy has largely been able to overcome his height in the NFL, surpassing all expectations with the 49ers, but injuries have been a frequent concern. He suffered a serious elbow injury as a rookie in the NFC championship game, missed the final two games of the 2024 season with another elbow issue and missed nearly half of 2025 with turf toe.
Accuracy
Purdy might be more turnover-prone than Simpson projects to be, but that is more the result of his willingness to sling the ball and take chances. Otherwise, Purdy has been one of the NFL's most accurate quarterbacks since entering the league. The 49ers star has completed nearly 68 percent of passes over four seasons and completed just under 70 percent in 2025 despite a litany of injuries to his receiving weapons.
Simpson saw his accuracy dip late in 2025, but drops from his receivers were a contributing factor, and accuracy was one of his greatest strengths early in the season. If he can keep himself healthy, accuracy should be a plus for Simpson at the NFL level.
Mac Jones' arm strength has never been his defining trait, but the former Alabama QB and current 49ers backup has made up for it at times with accuracy. Jones has completed 66.5 percent of his passes across five NFL seasons, even while struggling in other areas, and he completed just under 70 percent in eight starts for San Francisco in 2025. His arm is limited enough that he more often takes what defenses give him.
While Simpson should have a stronger arm than Jones, he likewise values accuracy and shorter completions over trying to be a gunslinger.
Struggles under pressure
Jones has seemingly improved under pressure during his time with the 49ers, but his struggles dealing with pressure during his time with the Patriots accelerated the end of his tenure in New England.
Simpson didn't necessarily panic under pressure at Alabama, still doing a fine job of avoiding turnovers, but his decision-making and execution suffered when teams started realizing he was particularly susceptible to pressure.
