Post-NFL combine Alabama mock draft: How high can Ty Simpson climb in Round 1?

Ty Simpson didn’t emphatically cement his place as QB2 at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week, but all indications are that he didn’t do anything to let it slip away either. The Crimson Tide’s one-year starter is a near lock to be the next quarterback taken after Fernando Mendoza, and now the question is just how high he can climb in the first round. 

Simpson was far from the only former Alabama player at the combine, but of the 12 players representing the Tide in Indy, only nine found an NFL home in this post-combine mock draft. 

Ty Simpson, QB: 1st round, No. 24 overall, Cleveland Browns

Ty Simpson spoke about his previous connection with former Georgia offensive coordinator and new Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken at the combine this past week, but that’s not the reason he makes sense to Cleveland at No. 24. However, it does have to do with Monken taking over. 

It’s clear from the process that Monken was not Cleveland’s first choice to replace Kevin Stefanski, and he reeks of a one-and-done NFL head coach. Maybe the only way to save that would be by taking a young QB who shows promise in his first year, and Simpson is the best bet with the second of the Browns’ two first-round picks. 

The best fit is the LA Rams at either No. 13 or No. 29, but while he’s aging, Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season, and the Rams are simply too close to winning another Super Bowl with Sean McVay and Les Snead for that braintrust to be focused on contingency planning for their next franchise guy. 

Kadyn Proctor, OT: 1st round, No. 28 overall, Houston Texans

Massive offensive tackles like Proctor don’t have a great track record of success in the NFL, but he was slimmed down at the combine, weighing in at 352, and he tested well for his size. If he doesn’t work out at guard, he can still kick inside to guard, and Houston needs a lot of help in the trenches, so the Texans would find a place for him next season. 

Germie Bernard, WR: 2nd round, No. 64 Seattle Seahawks

Jaxson Smith-Njigba is a true WR1 target hog who will always be the focal point of the passing game, whether he’s working outside or from the slot. In his breakout season, JSN primarily worked outside as an X receiver, so a Z type with slot versatility and a proclivity to rack up yards after the catch would be a nice complement. 

In some ways, JSN and Bernard would have redundant skill sets, though JSN is an extremely suped-up version. That’s why Seattle traded for Rashid Shaheed midseason to add a field-stretching element to the offense. However, Bernard would give the Seahawks a nice interchangability with their receiver corps, which could make JSN even more lethal. 

Parker Brailsford, C: 4th round, No. 137 overall, Philadelphia Eagles

An undersized center; when have the Philadelphia Eagles ever made something out of one of those? Well, Jeff Stoutland isn’t there anymore, and the run game is changing, but Brailsford is still the type of undersized athlete that Howie Roseman would value on the interior of the line. 

Cam Jurgens is locked up through 2029 as one of the highest-paid centers in football, but with left guard Landon Dickerson battling injuries that could threaten his career, Roseman may be interested in adding talented interior offensive line depth wherever he can. 

LT Overton, EDGE: 5th round, No. 146 overall, Washington Commanders

Dan Quinn likes big edge players. That’s been his type since the Seattle days as Pete Carroll’s defensive coordinator. Overton, at 6-foot-3, 274 pounds, fits that bill, and he has the versatility to move inside on passing downs. After testing poorly at the combine, his future could be as a three-technique on the inside, but the Commanders just need to add good players to their defensive line, regardless of where they ultimately end up playing. 

Deontae Lawson, LB: 5th round, No. 153 overall, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have taken multiple cracks at finding a suitable running-mate and eventual replacement for Roquan Smith, and maybe they take another crack at it with Lawson on Day 3. Lawson’s recent knee injury slowed him at the start of the 2025 season, but he has a lot of good tape out there, and new Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter got to see him close up when the former five-star made six tackles against Michigan in the 2024 Rose Bowl. 

Tim Keenan, DL: 5th round, No. 161 overall, Baltimore Ravens

Would Baltimore really double-dip on former Alabama defenders in the fifth-round? It wouldn’t be a bad way to address its needs. Minter’s entire defensive philosophy is predicated on stopping the run with light boxes so he can keep a lid on the passing game with two-deep safety looks and an array of zone coverages. Keenan won’t provide any pass-rushing juice at the NFL level, but he can two-gap and take on double teams, which will leave Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and the rest of the Baltimore defense free to rally and make tackles around the line of scrimmage. 

Domani Jackson, 6th round, No. 214 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers

Domani Jackson currently sits at No. 235 on the consensus board, but evaluators seem to be split on his NFL projection. His best tape was from 2024, and he’s been inconsistent throughout his entire career. Still, he has length, physicality, and top-end speed. A team like Pittsburgh, which desperately needs to add depth at cornerback, would be wise to take a swing on Jackson if he lasts this late into Day 3. 

Jam Miller, 7th round, No. 233 overall, Minnesota Vikings

Personally, I wouldn’t draft Jam Miller. Regardless of Alabama’s offensive line struggles, Miller simply never proved he had the juice to be an impact rusher at the collegiate level, let alone the NFL. Then, Miller went out and ran a 4.42 at the combine, which may be enough for a team like Minnesota that sees a ton of Cover 2 because of Justin Jefferson, to view Miller as a potential piece of a backfield rotation.