There isn't a more polarizing prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class than Alabama QB Ty Simpson.
His tape from the first half of the season was elite enough to put him in serious discussion for the No. 1 overall pick. He fell off a bit in the back half of the year due to injuries and various issues surrounding him offensively, but he did enough to be in a position to be one of the top quarterbacks in this class.
Simpson heads to Indianapolis this week as the consensus No. 2 QB in the draft behind Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. But he'll be under the microscope at the combine, perhaps more than any other player, as he looks to solidify himself as a first-round pick.
Simpson turned down mammoth NIL offers and the opportunity to return to Alabama for his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft after he was given first-round feedback.
Even as the projected QB2, however, that doesn't guarantee him a first-round selection, though the general consensus is that he will hear his name called within the first 32 picks. At least for now.
But a lot can change in Indianapolis, and no prospect stands to gain - or lose - as much as Simpson this week.
The NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah believes Simpson has the most at stake of any prospect:
Alabama QB Ty Simpson has 'the most at stake' ahead of the NFL Combine, @MoveTheSticks says.
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) February 20, 2026
"A lot of homework left to do on him, but I think he's clearly the second quarterback in this draft class."
🔗 https://t.co/Qk8ajGK7tN pic.twitter.com/ISQNb0oyn2
Ty Simpson will look to solidfy himself as a 1st round pick at the NFL Combine
Simpson has made the high-risk, high-reward decision to throw at the Combine, a decision that most in his position probably wouldn't make. Mendoza, for instance, will wait until his Indiana Pro Day to throw in front of scouts.
But Mendoza is the projected No. 1 overall pick and has little to gain in Indianapolis. Simpson, on the other hand, has everything to gain - and everything to lose. But the Alabama signal-caller has never shied away from competition. That competitive drive is what led to him waiting his turn for three seasons in Tuscaloosa before finally taking over the starting job in 2025.
It's that drive that could serve him well this week. He'll impress scouts and NFL shot-callers in meetings, but how he performs in on-field drills will determine whether he can lock himself into the first round, or if he'll need a substantial bounce-back performance at his Pro Day.