It’s that time of year again: the college football season is nearly over, and NFL Mock Drafts are flying in from every direction.
Undeniably, there will be yet another wave (get it?) of players from the Alabama Crimson Tide who hear their names called during the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, one recent mock draft has a few Alabama stars falling down the draft order, potentially motivating them to spend another year or so in Tuscaloosa.
Mike Renner doesn’t see Ty Simpson as a first-rounder
Mike Renner, a long-time NFL Draft expert for CBS Sports, released his sixth mock draft of the cycle, and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson found himself on the outside looking in.
No, Renner doesn’t have Simpson going undrafted, but he does have the Crimson Tide’s offensive leader outside of the first round.
Instead, Renner included Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore as the only two quarterbacks being selected in the first round, with the two Big Ten QBs going first and second overall.
Over the last few years, the NFL has seen extremely quarterback-heavy draft classes, especially in 2024, when six quarterbacks were drafted in the first 12 selections. Because of that, not a lot of teams are vying to waste a first-round pick on yet another quarterback.
In other words, what may be best for Simpson might not be waiting around for a second or third round selection. So, those Alabama fans who have been begging for their quarterback to return for another season may have their wishes granted.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
This year, the first round of the NFL Draft is scheduled to unfold on Thursday, April 23, with the rest of the draft unfolding through Saturday, April 25. The 2026 NFL Draft is taking place in Pittsburgh, PA, home to the Steelers, who have the No. 21 pick in the first round.