Ty Simpson

Draftniks discussed Simpson's rising stock ad nauseam this spring, to the point that it wasn't actually too much of a surprise when he went in the first half of the first round (13th overall). The unexpected part is taking on an apprenticeship under reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, rather than joining a QB-needy team like the Browns or Cardinals. For redraft fantasy leagues, Simpson won't even show up on most cheatsheets or rankings unless Stafford's troublesome back flares up again this summer. It's a much different story for dynasty, especially in superflex or two-QB leagues, where Simpson shapes up as the ultimate high-ceiling, low-floor pick -- one with added appeal to rebuilding teams. He was a five-star recruit who rode pine at Alabama for three years, before finally starting 15 games in 2025 and throwing for 3,567 yards (64.5% completion rate, 7.5 YPA) with 28 TDs and five INTs. Simpson doesn't have great arm strength and isn't fast enough or big enough (6-foot-1, 211) to be a true dual threat in the NFL, but he's a confident scrambler who ran for 282 yards and two TDs last year (not counting sack yardage). The oft-cited Brock Purdy comp is reasonable, and it even extends to the favorable environment for fantasy production, assuming head coach Sean McVay and WR Puka Nacua are still in Los Angeles whenever Simpson gets his chance to start. That's all promising, and it's always a good sign when a successful franchise drafts you early, but even Simpson's supporters sometimes acknowledge that he wouldn't have been top-20 material in a better draft class. He's also old for a rookie, turning 24 in December, which means he could realistically approach his 25th or 26th birthday with fewer than 1,500 combined college/NFL snaps to his name. Read Past Outlooks