Nick Saban Gives Ty Simpson Evaluation in New Video Amid 2026 NFL Draft Rumors

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban is a fan of Ty Simpson, though he believes he's more of a developmental project than a Day 1 starter given his limited starts (15) at the college level.

"I think maturity would be the word that I would say is important in the development of his game," Saban said during a Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "I think he can throw it well enough, I think he's athletic enough. Decision-making, processing, drifting in the pocket—things that you can improve upon with experience. Because maturity is nothing more than making the right decision at the right time, and that comes with experience and repetition. He doesn't have enough of that, but he will get it, and I think he'll be a very good player. But he needs to go someplace where he has a chance to develop and not play right away. That's just my opinion."

Simpson is generally regarded as the No. 2 quarterback in this draft class behind Fernando Mendoza, and could be a player selected as high as the first round. The B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the No. 44 player overall on its final big board, while NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah had him at No. 36 overall.

Simpson may make the most sense for a team that isn't likely to start him right away. Think the Pittsburgh Steelers, who could develop him for a season and let him learn under Aaron Rodgers (assuming he doesn't retire). But with plenty of quarterback-needy teams, Simpson shouldn't be on the board for long.