Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, a redshirt junior who finally emerged as the starter in 2025 after three seasons as a backup, made headlines last week by declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. In his lone year under center for the Crimson Tide, Simpson delivered a solid performance, completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He guided Alabama to an 11-4 record, including a run to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where they fell 38-3 to Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Simpson’s season started strong, with early Heisman buzz, but he faced challenges late, including a cracked rib that sidelined him in the playoff loss.
Despite the declaration, the story took an intriguing turn in recent days. Multiple reports indicate that Simpson has received aggressive NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) offers from other programs urging him to reconsider, enter the transfer portal, and play one more year of college football. The most eye-catching figure is upwards of $6.5 million for the 2026 season, reportedly from the Miami Hurricanes, who started negotiations at $4 million and escalated quickly. This would make him the highest-paid player in college football if accepted.
Other schools have also entered the fray, with SEC programs like Tennessee and Ole Miss offering at least $4 million each. These unsolicited deals highlight the skyrocketing value of proven quarterbacks in the modern NIL era, where top talents can command sums rivaling mid-round NFL rookie contracts. Simpson’s base NIL at Alabama in 2025 was around $400,000 (doubling to $800,000 with incentives), making these figures a massive leap.
Simpson, a 23-year-old from Martin, Tennessee (son of UT-Martin head coach Jason Simpson), has deep ties to Alabama. He committed to Nick Saban out of high school, waited patiently behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, and has expressed pride in his Crimson Tide legacy. Sources close to him suggest he’s not wavering on his NFL decision, with first-round grades from NFL teams and rankings as the No. 3 QB prospect behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore.
The offers underscore the chaotic quarterback market in college football, where programs desperate for elite signal-callers are willing to pay unprecedented sums. While withdrawing from the draft remains possible before the deadline, Simpson appears poised to pursue his pro dreams, potentially as a first-round pick in a relatively thin QB class.
Ultimately, this saga illustrates the evolving economics of college sports. Simpson’s choice—forgoing a potential $6.5 million windfall for the long-term upside of an NFL career—could define how top talents weigh immediate riches against future earnings. As he prepares for events like the Senior Bowl, the Alabama QB’s next chapter is generating massive interest across the sport.
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