Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer addresses major Ty Simpson draft concern

Perhaps the biggest criticism hovering over the NFL Draft stock of Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson this spring is that he recorded only 15 college starts. 

During a Wednesday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer explained why interested teams shouldn't be scared away by Simpson's lack of experience compared to other players at the position.

Ty Simpson took "big steps forward" in his final college season

"Even though he hasn't played a lot of starts, he's been around college football at a high level, and he's the son of a coach," DeBoer said about Simpson, per Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. "He's just done a great job. Last year, he really did an excellent job taking big steps forward, big chunks going from playing a little bit in the previous years to starting the season fast and making a lot of big plays for us." 

One reason some have linked Simpson with the Cleveland Browns is that his father knows recently hired Browns head coach Todd Monken. The Browns reportedly "like" Simpson, but it's unknown if they like him enough to make him a first-round draft pick. 

"He understands the game," DeBoer continued while speaking about Simpson. "He understands not just the Xs and Os, but what the quarterback's job is.... we put a lot of his shoulders to check things. He gets it all. He did a great job managing the game and making big plays for us."

What a team will get in drafting Ty Simpson

As shared by ESPN's Rich Cimini and the Associated Press, Simpson insisted after his pro-day workout on Wednesday that he "absolutely" believes he has "done everything" to become a first-round pick. DeBoer campaigned for the Browns and other quarterback-needy teams to spend such a valuable asset on the young signal-caller. 

"He'll put his head down and go compete for a job from the get-go," DeBoer added about Simpson. "He'll do it the right way. He'll respect everyone around him, but he'll attack the situation and be in the facility spending countless hours doing whatever he can to learn."

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals as the co-betting favorites at +140 odds to draft Simpson. Stories have also linked the Jets with former Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar and Miami's Carson Beck.