Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson suddenly has a major decision on his hands following latest transfer portal move
Ty Simpson has declared for the NFL Draft, but he has one big reason why he may change his mind.
A little over a week ago, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson was weighing all options when it came to his football future. A return to Alabama, an entrance into the transfer portal, or a declaration for the NFL Draft.
Simpson chose the latter of the three options, throwing his hat into the ring as he aims to be a first-round selection in a weak 2026 NFL quarterback class. However, it wouldn’t be the first time a prospect declared only to enter the portal and transfer, and there is reason to believe that one school will want Simpson to do the same after losing out on a top portal prospect.
Teams have been offering Ty Simpson millions to return to school
Just because a player has declared for the NFL Draft, it doesn’t mean he can’t back out. Wednesday, Jan 14, is the deadline to declare for the draft. Meaning if Simpson were to pursue another year of college football, he would make his decision in short order. Why would he come back? Simple: money.
“Alabama QB Ty Simpson declared for the NFL Draft, but other college programs are still trying to get him to enter the transfer portal. One offered a deal that could total $6.5 million,” wrote Nick Kelly of Alabama.com over the weekend.
What schools are interested in Ty Simpson?
A former Heisman front-runner and a player who was talked about as a potential first overall pick just a few months ago, Simpson would immediately be in high demand around the nation. However, there is one school that stands above the rest: the Miami Hurricanes.
On Monday morning, reports surfaced that Dylan Raiola will be heading to the Oregon Ducks, and as first reported by A to Z Sports’ Ryan Roberts, Sam Leavitt will be signing with the LSU Tigers. Leavitt was the Hurricanes’ best hope. He was in Coral Gables over the weekend on a visit, yet he stuck with the Tigers.
That leaves the Hurricanes, who are playing for a national championship in just a week, without a sure-fire quarterback for 2026. Sources tell A to Z Sports that the Hurricanes will be “checking in” on Simpson to ensure he’s fully declared. Something they did with Cam Ward, who they convinced to come back to school, and Carson Beck, who has led the Hurricanes to a national championship this year.
So there is precedent in this situation, and the Hurricanes find themselves in the same situation. Simpson reportedly remains committed to the NFL Draft, but it’s worth at least questioning if the Hurricanes will make one more big push.
But what should Simpson do? I asked A to Z Sports Alabama contributor Josh Taylor.
Should Ty Simpson return to college or go to the NFL Draft?
“Simpson’s decision to return to college and play for another year would honestly be a win-win scenario for him in 2026. He could really use that extra year to get healthy this offseason and return to his peak that we saw from him during the season before he started to suffer injuries down the stretch.”
“We saw what Cam Ward did, and it landed him the No. 1 overall pick in the draft the next year, and Simpson is hoping to do the same. But this is a weaker draft class than what it’s projected to look like for the 2027 NFL Draft, so the decision comes with its own risks as well.”
We’ll find out Simpson’s final decision soon enough.
Alabama Crimson Tide News
Latest transfer portal addition proves that Alabama is focused on getting back to the basics of Crimson Tide football in 2026
The Crimson Tide may have lost out on two flashy weapons, but Alabama’s plan for 2026 is becoming clear.
