Rewind the clock back 10 years, and Alabama didn't have a single starting QB in the NFL. AJ McCarron had caught on as a backup, something he'd make a career out of. Greg McElroy had a cup of coffee with the Jets, and that was it for the Nick Saban era to that point.
Prior to the Saban era, Brodie Croyle spent a few years in Kansas City, mostly as a reserve. He did have a run as the team's starter but lost every game he started.
You'd have to go back to the 1970s to find a QB drafted out of Alabama who found success. Jeff Rutledge had a 14-year NFL career and won a couple of Super Bowls as the backup QB for Washington. Richard Todd was the last Alabama QB drafted in the 1st Round back in 1976 before Tua Tagovailoa was picked by the Dolphins in 2020. That's a 44-year gap between 1st Round picks according to my amateur calculations.
The majority of Alabama's success at QB in the NFL was tied to three players who had long retired: Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler, and Bart Starr.
But now, following Jalen Milroe's selection with the 92nd pick in the 3rd Round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Alabama's last five starting quarterbacks have all been selected in the first three rounds of the draft. It's a ridiculous run of success at the position that Alabama has never had.
It all changed when a freshman replaced a struggling Blake Barnett in the season opener against USC in 2016. Jalen Hurts entered the game and had two successful seasons as the team's starter and one as the backup. He passed the baton to Tagovailoa, who broke the futile streak of no 1st-rounders at the position.
Tua passed it to Mac Jones, who parlayed one outstanding season as the team's starter into being selected 15th overall by the New England Patriots. Bryce Young took it from there and became the first Tide QB to win the Heisman Trophy and became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Tagovailoa, Jones, and Young gave Alabama three consecutive 1st Round picks at the position. Hurts was a 2nd rounder, but has found the most NFL success so far. He just led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win, where he was named MVP. He's gotten Philadelphia to the Super Bowl twice in four seasons as the team's starting QB.
Tagovailoa has battled injuries, but has been effective when he has played. He finished 9th in MVP voting two years ago.
Jones looks destined to be a career backup, but there are worse fates. Young struggled initially with the Panthers but was outstanding down the stretch last season and looks like the franchise guy Carolina hoped for.
Milroe's fate remains to be seen. He landed in a good situation with the Seahawks, one where he won't be expected to start early. Seattle signed Sam Darnold to a big contract this offseason, and he's the unquestioned starter. Milroe will see action in some designed packages, but he's probably at least two years away from being a legitimate starter, barring injury, of course.
Can Ty Simpson - or another - continue Alabama's run of QB success?
Ty Simpson is the leader in the clubhouse to be Alabama's starting QB for next season. Whether he is a legitimate pro prospect remains to be seen. There's not enough tape on him yet for anyone to know, but starting at Alabama puts you under the spotlight - and microscope - so there will be plenty of scrutiny if things go wrong, and accolades if things go well.
He's got good size at 6-foot-2, but his arm strength is a legitimate question mark. He's thrown 50 career passes with the Crimson Tide across three seasons, and his next start will be his first one.
If Simpson isn't the guy and can't continue Alabama's NFL Draft streak, odds seem good that the drought won't last long. Because the heir apparent will probably be one of the top draft prospects in either 2028 or 2029.
5-star Keelon Russell looks like the real deal. He might have to sit a year behind Simpson before he gets to prove it, but once he gets on the field, his talent will be undeniable.
The days of the game manager QB are over. Alabama effectively transitioned away from it over Nick Saban's final eight years in Tuscaloosa. Kalen DeBoer won't be going back in time, either.