For those who watched him closely in Tuscaloosa, this probably isn’t a surprise. But after a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the rest of the football world is starting to realize what Alabama fans already knew about quarterback Ty Simpson.

And now, former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel is saying what many are beginning to believe: Simpson might be the best hidden gem in the entire 2026 NFL Draft.

Simpson arrived at the Combine with plenty to prove.

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Despite putting together an impressive final season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide quarterback still entered the pre-draft process with questions surrounding where he would land on draft boards.

That conversation shifted quickly once scouts and analysts got a closer look at him in Indianapolis.

Throughout the week, Simpson showcased the traits that made him such a valuable leader for Alabama’s offense: poise, arm talent, and the ability to command an offense at a high level.

Daniel was one of the voices who came away extremely impressed.

The longtime NFL veteran praised Simpson’s performance and suggested that the former Alabama quarterback may be flying under the radar compared to some of the other quarterbacks in the class.

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According to Daniel, whichever team ends up selecting Simpson could walk away with one of the biggest steals of the draft.

That praise speaks volumes.

At Alabama, Simpson developed under one of the most demanding football environments in the country. The Crimson Tide program has long been known for preparing players for the next level, and Simpson fully embraced that challenge during his time in Tuscaloosa.

His final season as Alabama’s starting quarterback proved he could handle the spotlight. Simpson threw for 3,567 yards while completing 64.5 percent of his passes, tossing 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions across 15 games.

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More importantly, he consistently showed command of the offense and the ability to make the right decisions at the line of scrimmage.

Those are the types of qualities NFL teams look for when evaluating franchise quarterbacks.

Simpson has also spoken openly about how Alabama’s system helped prepare him for the professional level. Between the complexity of the offense and the level of competition he faced week after week in the SEC, he believes the experience has given him a strong foundation heading into the NFL.

And that belief is now being echoed by people around the league.

With the NFL Draft approaching, Simpson’s stock continues to climb. Some projections now have him landing comfortably in the first round, with a growing possibility he could hear his name called much earlier than originally expected.

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For teams searching for a quarterback who is tough, prepared, and battle-tested, Simpson checks a lot of boxes.

The secret may be getting out.

But if Chase Daniel is right, whichever franchise decides to take a chance on Alabama’s former quarterback might soon discover they’ve found something special.

And if you followed Ty Simpson’s journey in Tuscaloosa, you already know that wouldn’t be surprising at all.

Roll Tide.