The Alabama football program is always well represented during the NFL Draft. That will be true once again in 2026, with QB Ty Simpson and tackle Kadyn Proctor both expected to go off the board early. Simpson in particular could be a wild card in a draft class with very little quarterback talent.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler spoke with league executives and scouts ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. He shared some surprising insights about how the NFL views Simpson in his latest article.
One NFL scout called Simpson “a mix between Jared Goff and Mac Jones.” That pro comparison could make NFL teams more comfortable taking him in the first round. Simpson has also been compared to Brock Purdy just weeks before the draft.
It also helps that Alabama runs a pro-style offense that prepares its players for that jump to the NFL.
“He made a lot of NFL throws,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “Some guys were running a glorified high school offense in college, but [Simpson] was throwing deep in-breakers, corners, deep outs, seams, curls.”
Of course, Simpson’s limited starting experience with the Crimson Tide has some scouts worried.
“I don’t think anything about him other than him being a one-year player is supremely polarizing,” an AFC executive said. “There’s not a good history of it, but I think you’ve got to take each guy as an individual case. I don’t think anyone expects him to come in right away and be great. If picked in the 20s, he’ll get experience and reps and get legs under him. He’s a good kid, a coach’s kid, had a lot of good production and success. Maybe not on the same tier as top guys, but he’s still a player.”
Simpson could make sense for teams like the Steelers or Dolphins at the bottom of the first round.
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