Ty Simpson will be the most talked about player in the NFL Draft until he gets selected. Projections on the Alabama quarterback have ranged from middle third of the first round to early in the second round. With Simpson scheduled to attend the event in Pittsburgh, the cameras will be on him all night long.
And if Jordan Reid's most recent seven-round mock draft is a sign of the future, Simpson's wait could be longer than any Crimson Tide fan would want to see. Right now, Reid has Simpson falling out of the first round and into the waiting arms of the Arizona Cardinals at the 34th overall pick.
From the No. 1 overall pick all the way to Mr. Irrelevant 👀@Jordan_Reid's projections for all 257 picks in the NFL draft ⬇️ https://t.co/BxC9rU21RO
— ESPN (@espn) April 20, 2026
While Simpson's potential rise or fall will make for compelling television, it could be a tough watch for anyone that has an affinity for Simpson, who waited patiently for his turn to run the Alabama offense and led the Tide into the 12-team CFP bracket.
Latest ESPN NFL mock draft has Ty Simpson falling out of the first round
There's no question that this could be the best-case scenario for Simpson if he wants to see the field immediately. The Cardinals have a new head coach, former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and a desperate need for a franchise quarterback. Arizona released Kyler Murray after the season and will be on the hunt for a QB in this draft.
Simpson only started for one season with the Tide, but he's an older prospect, and he could've transferred early in his career to chase playing time, but chose to stay even after Nick Saban retired and was replaced by Kalen DeBoer. That decision from Simpson has likely earned him a measure of respect from some NFL front offices, who appreciate his loyalty in these times when it's not unusual to see quarterbacks transfer two or three times in search of snaps or better NIL deals.
The wait was worth it for Simpson, who threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. Now he's looking at another potential wait Thursday and, if history is any indication, Simpson will make the teams that didn't draft him regret their decision.
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