ESPN NFL Draft analyst shares updated big board rating for Ty Simpson following Combine
By David Wasson
Published:
The 2026 NFL Draft is 49 days away, with several high-profile stars of the future still yet to exhibit their skills during private on-campus workouts.
But that hasn’t stopped players from moving up and down various mock draft prognostications. That includes former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who turned in an impressive performance at the NFL Combine last week in Indianapolis and is seeing his theoretical stock rise as the draft nears.
One NFL analyst, ESPN’s Matt Miller, says that Simpson is solidly among his Top 50 prospects at No. 39 and could be a late first-round selection. According to Miller:
Simpson quickly moved up draft boards thanks to his command and super-fast processing ability from the pocket. He doesn’t have elite size or arm strength, but he can pick apart defenses with great accuracy — he had a 64.5% completion percentage with 28 touchdown passes and five interceptions. Despite having only 15 career starts, Simpson plays with the instincts and poise of a much more seasoned player. Teams must dive in on why his first nine games were elite and his final six weren’t, and scouts typically want to see quarterbacks with more starts. But Simpson’s accuracy, anticipation and ability to read the field could put him in Round 1.
Simpson is only one of two quarterbacks on Miller’s Top 50. Former Indiana standout and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza sits at No. 2 overall. Simpson is also one spot above former Crimson Tide offensive tackle Kaydn Proctor.
Will Ty Simpson make it into the top 10 of the NFL Draft? Make a prediction at Kalshi!
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
