The Alabama Crimson Tide were excited about starting the Ty Simpson era after Jalen Milroe departed the program last spring, but even they couldn’t have imagined he’d play so well in Year 1 as a starter. The redshirt junior leads the SEC in touchdowns (18) and adjusted yards per attempt (10.3) and is carrying one of the best passing offenses in the nation. Completing over 70% of passes and averaging almost 276 yards a game, Simpson is garnering major NFL interest.

The lack of a clear QB1 in the class entering this fall opened the door for a riser like Simpson. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder has been deadly accurate and is playing beyond his years with elite decision-making. PFF has credited him with a 6% big-time throw rate and 1.9% turnover-worthy throw rate, both excellent marks.

The A to Z Sports NFL Draft team projected Simpson to go No. 1 overall in our most recent 2026 NFL two-round draft, and he would’ve been my pick, too. But Simpson is blocking out the noise and focusing on one thing this season.

Ty Simpson shoots down NFL Draft buzz in favor of winning at Alabama

Simpson explained what his motto and message have been to teammates after Alabama beat Tennessee. It’s clear that only the next game has been on Simpson’s mind, despite the temptation to hear the outside influencers who could be pushing him to make his career a one-and-done in Tuscaloosa.

“I just want to win, period, point blank. … I’m gonna make sure that I do everything I can to prepare…We say in the quarterback room, ‘Prepare like you’ve never won. Perform like you’ve never lost.'”

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“Right now, the hottest QB in the country resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. With the Jets in QB turmoil yet again, passing on a signal-caller feels irresponsible. The poise, precision, anticipation, and tangibles have all been off the charts for Simpson over the last month, making him worthy of first overall consideration,” Rob Gregson wrote in our mock draft.

The two areas I’ve earmarked where Simpson can improve are getting rid of the ball quicker and reducing his pressure-to-sack rate. Currently, he’s taking 3.07 seconds to throw, which is in a dangerous range to be in because it signals he may be prone to negative plays and opting against easy, quick-hitters that keep the offense moving. His sack rate is high, too, and is linked to holding onto the ball a little long for a player who isn’t much of a rushing threat.

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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Oct 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.