Ty Simpson ready to prove himself to Steelers, other teams at combine

Numerous reporters and analysts have linked a Pittsburgh Steelers team that may or may not have 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers serving as its starting quarterback later this year with Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Ty Simpson. 

While speaking with reporters at the NFL scouting combine on Friday, Simpson discussed meeting with head coach Mike McCarthy and others associated with the Steelers this week.

Ty Simpson has "love" for Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers

"Coach McCarthy's the guy, man," Simpson said, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "...It was cool to see all the quarterbacks he's worked with. [Dak Prescott] and Aaron Rodgers. And then situations that's come up in his career that they asked me what I thought about it. It was really cool 'cause we were just going back and forth. By the time that we were finished it felt like five minutes just 'cause of how much fun we had. I love Coach McCarthy. I love the Steelers."

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky recently said that parts of Simpson's game film "is significantly more impressive than" what Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza produced. That said, the Las Vegas Raiders almost certainly will make Mendoza the first pick of this year's draft. Meanwhile, some analysts have said that Simpson has "questionable first-round talent" at best. 

Some openly wondered if the Cleveland Browns could consider taking a flier on Simpson, but at least one Browns beat reporter thinks that the young quarterback "doesn’t fit the profile of a player" that Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry would choose in the first round of a player-selection process. 

Ty Simpson wants to prove one big thing at the combine

As ESPN's Jeff Legwold shared, Simpson is on track to throw during on-field workouts for quarterbacks that will be held on Saturday. During his media availability, Simpson sent somewhat of a message to those who have suggested he isn't worthy of being a first-round choice. 

"First off, I think I'm ready. I'm a franchise quarterback,'' Simpson explained. "Alabama prepares you the most for the NFL ... The Alabama locker room is as close to an NFL locker room as you can get.''

If the Steelers truly aren't as high on 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard as some think, Pittsburgh could grab Simpson with the hope that he could spend his rookie season learning from Rodgers.