When, where will ‘Bama QB Simpson go?
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has long been presumed as a given to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Long predicted to be the No. 2 QB to go in the draft is Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Just where and when he goes will be one of the prevailing storylines in Round 1 on Thursday, and perhaps most likely Round 2 on Friday.
A slew of suitors seems to have emerged: the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. The latter three clubs, consequently, have two first-round picks, apiece.
“We know the teams that are in the quarterback market,” NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero said Wednesday. “The Jets are one and they have two first-round picks at [No.] 2 and 16. They also have the first pick in Round 2 at 33. The Arizona Cardinals have done work on all the quarterbacks. They had Simpson in for a visit. Probably not taking a quarterback at [No. 3] but they own the No. 34 pick. There are other teams such as the Dolphins [No. 11 and No. 30 in first round]who’ve done a lot of work on quarterbacks. The Steelers, it would be a surprise if the Steelers, even with Aaron Rodgers’ future still not entirely clear, if they decide to take a quarterback in Round 1. Art Rooney II already said they are not going to do that. With those teams sitting at the top of [Round 2]not to mention the Browns have another pick in the top half of the second round. You have a bunch of teams with quarterbacks needs and if you feel like this is the guy, if you can get past the signs, the durability and only having 15 college starts with Ty Simpson, there’s a lot to like about him as a player.”
After the Jets kick off the second round at No. 33, the Cardinals follow (No. 34), with Cleveland currently at No. 39, Miami at No. 43 and Pittsburgh at No. 53.
Simpson saw action in four years for ‘Bama, but as aforementioned by Pelissero, started just one season as a junior in 2025. He threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions last season, doing enough to become the likely second signal-caller drafted in a relatively QB-light 2026 class. Just where he lands is likely to become known sometime on Friday.
