Rajvir Bal Compares Ty Simpson to Andy Dalton

This year’s NFL Draft has been all over the place, and one of the most prevalent names has been Alabama quarterback (QB) Ty Simpson.

He’s gone from being an afterthought to being a first-round projected selection in the 2026 NFL Draft (NFL Mock Draft Database). 

This begs the question: Does Simpson warrant this hype?

Background

Simpson was a five-star prospect out of high school and committed to Alabama in early 2021 (247Sports). This is Simpson’s first year as a starter in college.

2025 Stats

Through 8 games:

• 206 completions
• 311 attempts (66.2%)
• 2,565 yards 
• 20 touchdowns
• 1 interceptions

#15 Ty Simpson 6-foot-2, 208 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s Fall 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Late First-Round (I would select him)
Projected first-round prospect by nflmockdraftdatabase.com as of October 26, 2025

2025 game film reviewed: Vanderbilt, Missouri, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Florida State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

The Good

Simpson has the rare ability to blend splash plays with a more conservative and safe passing approach. This means that although Simpson is typically throwing into the short to intermediate route level (0-19 yards), he can make big downfield throws when called upon to do so.

Another plus ⎯

He’s cautious with the ball.

What else?

Simpson has legit NFL arm strength and can really push the ball downfield. His composure in that close game vs. Georgia this season showed me he’s ready to step up in the big moments. Anticipation throws are easy for this prospect. Another thing that impressed me was that he can drive his passes into tight throwing windows.

He can tuck and run the ball effectively.

The Bad

When defenders get into his grill, it can knock Simpson out of rhythm. I would guess this problem comes from a lack of experience. Going from starting one season in college straight into the pros could prove to be a daunting task for a prospect who doesn’t have any supreme athletic abilities. When Simpson’s initial read isn’t there, he can panic and move out of the pocket instead of sitting there and delivering the throw.

His weight is also somewhat of a concern.

Ten adjectives

Polished. Talented. Composed. Accurate. Fluid. Undersized. Cautious. Confident. Inexperienced. Mechanical.

Explaining the grade

Simpson is above average in a lot of key areas. He doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses.

However, one of the keys to grading is mitigating the risk. Some of the concerns I’ve mentioned must be accounted for in the grading process. With that said, I believe his blend of smarts, arm talent, and functional mobility should sneak him into the backend of the first round. Teams looking into drafting a guy who they want to sit for one year should look into Simpson.

NFL crystal ball

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pro Comp: QB Andy Dalton

Final Thoughts (For Now)

Simpson looks like a starting NFL QB who can eventually elevate an above-average team into playoff contention.

Overall, Simpson has many of the traits one would look for in a franchise QB.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.