$6.5 Million QB on the Brink: Is He About to Blow His NFL Draft Dreams? Find Out Why!

The 2026 NFL Draft is set to take place from April 23 to April 25, adjacent to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As the event approaches, discussions surrounding the quarterbacks expected to be selected early in the draft are heating up. Leading the pack is former Indiana starter and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, widely considered the No. 1 overall pick for the Las Vegas Raiders.

However, the quarterback landscape shifted significantly in January when Dante Moore, the starter at Oregon, opted to remain in college instead of declaring for the draft. Moore was anticipated as the No. 2 quarterback on many boards, putting him in a position to be one of the first players selected. His decision has left NFL teams scrambling to determine who the next best options will be.

One name that has emerged in the wake of Moore's announcement is Ty Simpson, the former Alabama starter. Following the recent 2026 Senior Bowl, ESPN's Matt Miller released a two-round mock draft where he projected Simpson would go to the New York Jets at No. 44 overall, significantly lower than the anticipated No. 2 slot.

"Simpson doesn't have a Round 1 grade on my board, and I couldn't find a single team that would give him one during conversations at the Senior Bowl," Miller wrote.

According to Miller, the Jets, armed with four picks in the first two rounds, could afford to take a gamble on Simpson as a second-rounder with potential starter upside. Yet, his lack of size and arm strength could hinder his draft stock, despite possessing the poise and processing skills indicative of NFL-level talent.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 208 pounds, Simpson spent all four years of his college career at Alabama, a rarity in an age dominated by the NCAA transfer portal. Over his first three seasons, he played in 15 games, completing 29 of 50 pass attempts for 381 yards, alongside 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His standout year came in 2025, when he served as the starter, finishing with 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His performance was pivotal in leading the Crimson Tide to their first SEC Championship and College Football Playoff appearances in two seasons, earning him a spot on the All-SEC Second Team alongside Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss.

Miller's updated mock draft revealed a notable trend: he did not predict any quarterbacks to be selected between Mendoza and Simpson, nor did he have any quarterbacks coming off the board in the 20 picks following Simpson in the second round. This underscores the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback class as teams evaluate their options and consider the long-term implications of their selections.

As the draft approaches, the conversation around quarterback talent will only intensify, especially in light of the shifting dynamics created by Moore’s decision. For fans and teams alike, the upcoming draft could reshape the future of several franchises, depending on how they navigate this seemingly muddled quarterback landscape.