Opinions on Ty Simpson have swung wildly this season in NFL Draft circles. Coming into the season, he wasn't really on the radar for the 2026 draft. But after some dynamite performances following an uneven start against Florida State, Simpson not only forced himself onto the radar, but had some going as far as to say he was in contention for the No. 1 pick.
Opinions have swung back recently on Simpson after he has stacked some rough performances in a row. Nuanced observers can see that it's not all on Simpson, and Alabama's offense has some real issues that not even elite QB play can solve, but he certainly isn't playing at the same level he was in September and October.
With only 13 starts to his name and a late-season slump, the narrative has shifted to Simpson perhaps being best suited to return to school for his redshirt senior season.
But this is a weak QB class overall, and it's hard not to strike when the iron is hot. And if the most recent projection by ESPN's Field Yates holds true, Simpson would be wise to forego his final season of eligibility and enter the draft.
Yates isn't ready to give up on Simpson's stock just yet, projecting the Alabama QB to go No. 31 overall to the Los Angeles Rams.
ESPN's Field Yates projects Ty Simpson to the Rams at No. 31 in mock draft
It's hard to imagine a better landing spot for Simpson. The Rams are one of the most well-run organizations in professional sports. Their head coach, Sean McVay, is one of the best offensive minds in football. And Matthew Stafford is a veteran QB who has had a Hall-of-Fame career. He would be the perfect mentor for Simpson to sit behind for a couple of years.
Stafford is still playing at an elite level, but he'll turn 38 in February, and it's fair to question, particularly with a significant injury history, how many more years he has ahead of him. As Yates mentions in his mock, the Rams have an extra first-round pick this year, which sets them up to potentially take a shot near the end of the first round on a QB of the future.
With his limited number of starts under his belt, Simpson would be best served to sit and learn for a year or two before being thrust into a starting role. The Rams would provide that opportunity, setting him up for long-term success at the next level.