Ty Simpson, after spending three years with the Alabama Crimson Tide, had a modest beginning, throwing just 50 passes in his initial collegiate seasons. His freshman year in 2022 saw him redshirted, and his appearances over the next two years were limited. However, Simpson’s fortunes changed dramatically when he secured the starting quarterback position for Alabama in the 2025 season. With 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and a mere five interceptions, he led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, showcasing his growth and potential.

On January 7, Simpson made headlines by declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. Yet, the allure of college football hasn’t fully dissipated for him. With several prestigious programs showing keen interest, Simpson finds himself at a crossroads. The University of Miami, poised for a national title, has reportedly offered him an enticing $6.5 million in name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. Meanwhile, Tennessee and Ole Miss are competing with offers of $4 million each.

These offers represent a significant financial leap for Simpson, who earned approximately $800,000 last season with Alabama. The crux of his decision lies in whether a return to college football might enhance his prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.

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The current NFL draft landscape is rife with teams eager for a quarterback infusion. Some mock drafts have positioned Simpson as a potential fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who hold a pick in the early 20s. The Steelers are navigating post-Ben Roethlisberger challenges, as Aaron Rodgers’ departure looms and a true franchise quarterback remains elusive since Roethlisberger’s 2022 retirement. Given the latter years of Roethlisberger’s career were marked by declining performance, the team’s need feels even more pronounced.

Being selected late in the first round would position Simpson for a contract worth approximately $16 to $20 million over four years. While this figure falls short of the Hurricanes’ initial offer in the rookie year, the long-term financial outlook in the NFL could be considerably brighter. Simpson’s choice now hinges on weighing immediate financial gain against potential future earnings and career development.

If Simpson got selected in the late first round, he’d get a contract worth about $16 to $20 million over four seasons. That would be less money his rookie year than the Hurricanes’ offer, though he’d likely earn more over the long run.

However, other mock drafts think Simpson would land in the second or third round. If he were to fall to the second day of the draft, his contract would fall accordingly. The No. 33 pick—the first pick of the second round—gets a little over $13 million over four years. The last pick of the third round, the No. 100 selection, receives about $6.6 million over four seasons. And while more second and third-round picks are getting larger guarantees in their contracts, it’s still not a given that Simpson would receive all that money if the team that drafted him chose to cut him.

The situation poses an interesting debate: Would you take a surefire large one-year deal to start for a team, or would you bet on yourself to try and get longer-term security, knowing that it might backfire and that you might have to ride the bench for one or more of those seasons?

We’ll see how everything unfolds over the coming weeks. Simpson thought he was done with college, but top-level programs are making that choice more difficult than he probably expected.