Ty Simpson Called 'Mix Between Jared Goff and Mac Jones' by Exec amid 2026 NFL Draft Rumors

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is one of the most polarizing prospects in this year's NFL draft class, but he has enough traits that have intrigued evaluators throughout the pre-draft process.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler spoke to one veteran NFL scout who called Simpson "a mix between Jared Goff and Mac Jones," indicating that he could be a reliable starter in the league.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked Simpson as the No. 2 quarterback and No. 26 overall player in its draft big board. He was projected to be selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the latest mock draft after the team traded back into the first round to take him with the 26th pick.

During his time at Alabama, Simpson spent just one year as a full-time starter and started just 15 games. His lack of experience has made some scouts hesitant to draft him with a first-round pick, but some around the league believe in his talent.

"I don't think anything about him other than him being a one-year player is supremely polarizing," an AFC executive told Fowler. "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."

The 2026 NFL draft will begin on April 23, and Simpson will certainly be hoping to prove to teams that he's worthy of a first-round pick over the next few weeks.