QB Ty Simpson To Drop Out Of Round 1?

Aside from Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, there may not be a surefire first-round quarterback in this year’s draft class. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is widely considered the second-best signal-caller available, but he is a polarizing prospect who made a meager 15 starts in college. Opinions vary on how high Simpson will go in the draft.

[RELATED: Ty Simpson’s Prospect Profile]

The top half of the first round may be a possibility for the 6-foot-1, 211-pound Simpson. There is also a chance he will last until Day 2, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN hears. That would be especially unfortunate for Simpson, who will attend the draft expecting to hear his name called in Round 1. Nevertheless, there are enough scouts with second-round grades on Simpson to make dropping out of the first round a possibility, according to Fowler.

Meanwhile, one general manager told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom that Simpson could even last into Round 3. On whether Simpson is a lock to go in the second round, the GM said to La Canfora: “A lock … I wouldn’t say a lock.”

It is unknown how many high-level decision makers have similar opinions, though it would be a major twist for Simpson to plummet out of the first two rounds. If enough teams would rather wait for what should be a deeper QB class in 2027, perhaps a free-fall will occur.

Owners of two first-rounders (Nos. 6 and 24) and in need of a long-term answer under center, the Browns are a popular pick for Simpson in mock drafts (via Grinding the Mocks). Cleveland has held a “30” visit with Simpson, but it does not consider him a first-round target, Zac Jackson of The Athletic relays. With no shortage of pressing needs (Jackson points to the offensive line and wide receiver), the Browns are expected to turn their attention elsewhere in the opening round. They are more likely to draft a passer in the middle rounds, per Jackson, which could set the stage for Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson or Dillon Gabriel to open 2026 as their starter.

A year after his own draft stock nosedived, Sanders is the early frontrunner to start for the Browns next season. Many predicted Sanders would go in the first round in 2025, but he fell all the way to the fifth (No. 144 overall). Five QBs, including Gabriel, exited the board before Sanders. Simpson will hope to avoid a similar fate this year.