As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is facing increasing scrutiny regarding his physical stature and his ability to transition to the professional level. The controversy began after Alabama’s significant 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl, where Simpson suggested that the Hoosiers’ defense was predictable. Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines responded by dismissing Simpson’s comments as “adorable” and later clarified on social media that the outcome was a result of superior execution.
“We saw everything they were doing on every single snap. It’s just that we exploited those cues and didn’t get frozen or crushed by them,” Haines stated, defending the defense that anchored Indiana’s perfect 16-0 national championship season.
And also, scouts have echoed concerns about Simpson’s physical frame recently.
According to a report from Tom Pelissero on X, one AFC executive commented, “When he walked in our room, he looked like one of the ball boys.”
An NFC executive elaborated on Simpson’s struggles to maintain weight, noting, “They’ve tried to get him to 210 pounds, and I think he’s really struggled to reach that. I believe he played in the low 200s and then faced significant challenges in that offense.”
Despite these physical concerns, some coaches see potential in Simpson, drawing comparisons to players like Brock Purdy or Kirk Cousins.
One AFC coordinator remarked, “He’s very cerebral; he’s like a coach on the field.” Another argued that “Kirk Cousins is a more apt comparison because of how Simpson plays the game.”
However, Simpson’s prospects of being a first-round pick may have been unintentionally affected by a significant trade.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that “when the Rams sent the No. 29 pick to the Chiefs in exchange for cornerback Trent McDuffie, it had one unintended consequence: it hurt Ty Simpson’s chances of being a first-round pick.”
Without that late first-round slot, Simpson’s path to being among the top 32 picks has become increasingly uncertain, and we will see more about it in the NFL Draft.
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