Ty Simpson is off to the NFL Draft. The redshirt junior announced on Wednesday that he would forego his final season of eligibility to pursue his dream of playing professionally.
Despite an up-and-down final couple of months, Simpson thrived in his first and only season as Alabama's starting QB, passing over 3600 yards and 28 touchdowns to only five interceptions. He showed a cerebralness at the line of scrimmage and a willingness to quickly trigger the football that will make him an intriguing prospect for NFL teams.
The biggest drawback for Simpson is his lack of experience. He only started 15 games in college, and still has some growing to do before he's ready to take on the challenge of being a franchise QB at the next level.
But the potential is there, and with quite a few teams in need of a QB and a class that looks pretty weak, don't be surprised if Simpson goes higher than you think.
The 3 best fits for Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have an obvious need at QB. Aaron Rodgers is 42 and could be in his final season. If he does choose to return for another year, Pittsburgh needs to find a young QB to develop. They can't continue to live off short-term solutions.
Pittsburgh currently holds the No. 21 pick in the draft. That might be too low to have a shot at Simpson, though; there are plenty of moving parts between now and April. The other QBs who decide to join this class or return to college will make a difference, as will Simpson's interviews and workouts leading up to it.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins could choose to replace Tua Tagovailoa with another Alabama QB. Tagovailoa's days in Miami are numbered. He was benched down the stretch of the season, and the Dolphins are desperately looking to get off his contract.
7th-round pick Quinn Ewers flashed some promise late in the year, but I suspect Mike McDaniel will be intrigued by Simpson's ability to diagnose coverages and quickly get the football out of his hands.
The Dolphins hold the 11th pick in April.
Simpson seems like a strong fit for the Shanahan/McVay offensive system (McDaniel is a Shanahan disciple). That's part of what makes this team his top fit.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford has had an MVP-type season for the Rams, but he'll also turn 38 next month and has dealt with several worrisome injuries over the last few years. He probably has a couple of years left, but planning for the future makes sense.
It makes even more sense considering the Rams have two first-round picks. They can take a player who can be impactful from day one with one of those picks while taking a swing on a QB with the other. The Rams will pick 13th (via ATL) and 30th in the first round.
This feels like an ideal fit for Simpson. He would be best served opening his career as a backup while continuing to develop. The Rams offer that chance, and there aren't many veterans who would be better for him to learn from than Stafford.