Skip Bayless doesn’t hold back on Ty Simpson amid Alabama QB’s rising draft stock

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson had been in the news over the last few weeks after NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky ranked him higher than reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza for the 2026 NFL draft.

While Orlovsky’s bold statement sparked controversy, Simpson is widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect behind the Indiana Hoosiers sensation.

However, veteran NFL analyst Skip Bayless isn’t convinced by the hype surrounding the Alabama quarterback’s rising draft stock. In an appearance on “The Arena: Gridiron” podcast, Bayless outlined Simpson’s low accuracy in pressure situations.

“In any of these teams trying to fall in love, trying to talk themselves into Ty Simpson in the first round, are playing for, so to speak, a tie,” Bayless said. “You’re playing for a tie with Ty because he’s average at best. You’re just trying to convince yourself that your eyes aren’t seeing what they’re really seeing. Because, to your point, the eye test of Ty Simpson is a fail.

“I’m not even sure it’s a second round grade… But with this kid, the arm is average at best, the arm talent is average at best. And when he finally hit the big time games down the stretch, as you pointed out, that’s when the accuracy got dangerously low.”

The New York Jets, who hold the No. 2 and No. 16 picks for the 2026 NFL draft, are one of the teams linked with Simpson in the offseason. The Cleveland Browns, who had their issues at the position last season, are another team linked with the Alabama quarterback.

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NFL analyst has Jets selecting Ty Simpson in his mock draft

While Ty Simpson is backed as the second-best quarterback in this year’s draft class, ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Alabama quarterback going to the Jets in the second round in his mock draft.

“New York can take him here, allow him a year to develop behind Geno Smith, then evaluate his future,” Miller wrote. “Simpson is a talented distributor who is accurate in a clean pocket but struggled down the stretch. His questionable decision-making could drop him to Round 2.”

Simpson’s lack of experience as a starter could see him on the bench in a backup role at the start of his NFL career.