Even though the 2025 NFL season just started, it’s never too early to look ahead toward the 2026 NFL Draft. This weekly series will take a closer look at some of the prospects the Carolina Panthers could
select in the 2026 iteration of the Draft. In this series, we’ll only be looking at prospects the Panthers could seriously consider. This week our profile will focus on Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson.
Bio
Ty is the son of longtime college football coach Jason Simpson, who has been at UT Martin since 2006. This early induction into the life of football paved the way for Ty to dominate Tennessee high school football and become the number two ranked quarterback prospect in the country in 2022. He committed to Alabama and spent the next three years backing up Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe. Despite his limited action in those seasons, he still showed flashes of what made him a top prospect. After taking over the starting role this season, Simpson has dazzled for the Tide with a QB Rating of almost 115 and a 21:1 touchdown to interception ratio.
Strengths/Weaknesses
Simpson is not the prototypical size for a quarterback, but his 6’2”, 215 lbs frame will likely hold up fairly well at the next level. His main strengths all stem from being a coaches son. First and foremost, his football IQ is off the charts. He quickly decodes defenses and makes adjustments at the line of scrimmage pre snap, and post snap he uses his eyes to freeze safeties and spatial awareness and internal clock to avoid pressure. Simpson also processes his reads incredibly fast, often finding the third read before pressure comes. Another main strength of his that his father instilled is his impeccable throwing motion. He has a quick release with insanely clean mechanics, leading to incredibly accurate and consistent throws.
One of the biggest question marks for scouts is Simpson’s sample size. This is his first year starting, so we don’t know if he is actually this good or is just on a heater. He also doesn’t have the prototypical arm strength teams often look for nowadays. This comes to the forefront when throwing the ball deep, as he can sometimes underthrow open receivers.
Projection
Simpson is the most pro-ready quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. He has the understanding of the game necessary to take over Week 1 and would thrive in a multitude of offensive schemes. Most experts agree that Simpson’s floor is a more than capable NFL starter. His ceiling is a little hazier. His lack of elite physical tools make some scouts skeptical about how good he truly can be, while others think his combination of elite intellect and flawless execution could push him into rarified air.
If the Panthers move on from Bryce Young as the starting quarterback, Simpson might be the best option to replace him. Dave Canales and Dan Morgan will be going into year three together as coach and GM, so there is no telling how much patience Dave Tepper will have with a project QB. Simpson could definitely step in and run the offense Canales wants to run. The inconsistencies on downfield throws would be nothing new to the Panthers offense, but Simpson seems to have the willingness to push the ball when necessary.
What do you think, Panthers fans? If Ty Simpson is available when the Panthers select in the 2026 NFL Draft, should they take him? Sound off in the comments!
