Dan Orlovsky Defends Ty Simpson as NFL Draft Prospect

The former NFL quarterback believes the Alabama QB can be a capable starter in the league despite some concerns.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:52pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a quarterback in motion, with their body and the football broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the dynamic action of the sport.Ty Simpson's draft stock remains uncertain as NFL teams weigh his potential against his limited starting experience and injury history.Today in Pittsburgh

With less than two weeks until the 2026 NFL Draft, the debate continues over the status of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson as a potential first-round pick. Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has weighed in, stating that he believes Simpson can be a capable starting QB in the league, despite questions about his durability and limited starting experience.

Why it matters

The depth and quality of the quarterback class is always a major storyline leading up to the NFL Draft. Simpson's draft stock has fluctuated, and Orlovsky's endorsement could help boost his standing with NFL teams looking to address the QB position.

The details

Orlovsky said on the "Ross Tucker Football Podcast" that while he doesn't believe Simpson is in the "very rare group" of elite NFL QBs like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, he thinks Simpson can still be a starting-caliber player. However, Simpson's production dipped late in the 2025 season due to injury, and he only has 15 career starts at Alabama, which is less than the 25-start minimum that NFL teams typically want to see from quarterback prospects.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is set to take place in less than two weeks, on April 24-26, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • Simpson played four seasons at Alabama, starting 15 games over that span.

The players

Dan Orlovsky

A former NFL quarterback who has weighed in on Ty Simpson's draft prospects.

Ty Simpson

The Alabama quarterback who is expected to be a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Bryce Young

The former Alabama quarterback who is now an NFL starter, and whom Simpson learned from during his time with the Crimson Tide.

Fernando Mendoza

The former Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Dante Moore

The Oregon quarterback who decided to stay in college, creating more uncertainty around the 2026 QB class.

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What they’re saying

“I would tell everybody that if we were going over all the guys that are the best in the league over an extended period of time, and there's different levels, I don't believe I've stated that I'm putting Ty Simpson into that very rare group of the Lamar (Jackson)s, Josh (Allens), Patrick (Mahomes)s and Joe (Burrows) and whatnot, but I believe that he's a starting quarterback in the NFL.”

— Dan Orlovsky, Former NFL Quarterback

What’s next

NFL teams will continue to evaluate Simpson and other quarterback prospects in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft, which takes place April 24-26 in Pittsburgh.

The takeaway

While Simpson may not be viewed as an elite, generational QB prospect, Orlovsky's endorsement suggests he could still be a viable first-round pick for teams in need of a starting-caliber signal-caller. However, his limited starting experience and injury history will likely be closely scrutinized by NFL franchises.