INDIANAPOLIS — Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson refuses to hide behind his college tape. While several top prospects plan to skip the workouts at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Simpson is taking the field. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports the Crimson Tide signal-caller will participate in the on-field passing session next week at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Simpson enters Indianapolis widely graded as the QB2 in this class, trailing Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza locked down the top spot after delivering a championship run for Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti. Simpson wants teams to watch his arm talent up close instead of relying solely on film from a season that ended on a turbulent note.
Chasing the QB1 Crown
You can feel the tension building ahead of next week’s throwing sessions. The cold Indianapolis air always creates a pressure cooker for draft hopefuls, but Simpson carries a massive chip on his shoulder. In his lone year as the starter in Tuscaloosa, he posted impressive numbers. He completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Those stats pushed him into top-10 draft conversations early in the season. But a rough finish to the Alabama campaign caused his stock to slip. Scouts started asking questions. Simpson intends to answer them with a football in his hands. He has a reputation for tackling challenges head-on, a trait he built during his years waiting for his turn in Tuscaloosa.
Throwing at the Combine gives him a direct opportunity to control the conversation. A crisp, accurate throwing session in shorts and a t-shirt won’t erase the late-season game tape, but it forces general managers to rethink their draft boards. He needs to spin the ball with velocity and hit his receivers perfectly in stride.
“I didn’t come all this way to sit on the sideline and watch other guys spin it. If you want to be the best, you have to step on the field and prove it in front of everybody.”
— Ty Simpson, Alabama Quarterback (Expected sentiment entering Combine week)
Draft Implications / What’s Next
The NFL Draft evaluation process turns entirely to Lucas Oil Stadium next week. If Simpson lights up the passing drills, he tightens the gap between himself and Mendoza. Quarterback-needy teams picking in the top five face a serious dilemma if Simpson proves his late-season struggles were a fluke rather than a trend.
Expect scouts to heavily scrutinize his footwork and deep-ball accuracy during the drills. He needs to hit the intermediate sideline routes cleanly. If he strings together a dominant workout, Simpson completely reshuffles the top half of the first round. A poor showing, however, opens the door for the QB3 and QB4 prospects to leapfrog him before Pro Days begin in March.
