Jason Burgos
For teams interested in selecting Alabama star Ty Simpson in next month’s NFL Draft, the quarterback sent them all a strong message on why they need him.
Simpson is one of the more divisive prospects in next month’s event. Draft evaluators know that the quarterback is talented, but the big question is, how high is his ceiling? Scouts only have one season of tape as a starter to look at. And while he was great for much of the year, he regressed over the final month of the season, but it wasn’t necessarily all his fault.
Simpson is projected to be taken at some point in Round 1, or early in Round 2. The Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Jets have all been linked to the QB. Plus, veteran draft expert Todd McShay claimed this week there is also a mystery team “lurking” as another suitor for Simpson.
Ty Simpson: ‘I’m program-changing’
Clearly, QB-needy franchises are intrigued by the player ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky recently claimed was the best at his position this year’s class. Yet, he remains far from a sure thing to be selected in the opening round. However, this week at Alabama’s pro day, Simpson offered a confident pitch for why he should be selected early in the NFL Draft.
“I’m program-changing,” Simpson told Kennington Smith III of the Associated Press. “I don’t just make myself better, I make other people better. If you draft me, and you want me to be your franchise quarterback, I’m not just coming in to look after myself. I’m looking after the whole team and making sure I leave it better than I left it.”
For teams like the NY Jets and Browns, that is exactly what they need after three and five-win seasons, respectively. They need a leader who can elevate their programs. Will Simpson’s comments sway talent evaluators from those two teams? We will all find out in a few weeks.
