Only one GM attended Alabama's Pro Day amid Ty Simpson-Fernando Mendoza debate

The Simpson-Mendoza debate

ESPN's Orlovsky recently kicked off the debate around Mendoza and Simpson. His comments, arguing Simpson is the better player, caught a lot of attention and pushback.

“I think Ty Simpson is QB1,” Orlovsky said. “I think Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this class. I think when you look at the body of work and what was asked of these two quarterbacks, you have to start with the question, who needed to do more to carry their football team to play well? Ty Simpson, and it’s not close. Between those two quarterbacks who took more games over throughout the course of the season? Ty Simpson, it’s not even close."

Criticism of the take came left and right. Some even argued that it's a conspiracy because Orlovsky and Simpson are both represented by the same agency, CAA. Others pushed back at ESPN for creating narratives that didn't previously exist. Even ESPN's draft guru, Mel Kiper, shot him down.

"Mendoza is nearly four inches taller than Ty Simpson," Kiper explained. "25 pounds heavier. 35 starts compared to 15, which is a risky, dangerous number for Ty. Now you think about 72 percent completion percentage to 64 (percent), right? Seven rushing touchdowns to two. And the fact that he had five fumbles over a seven-game period, Ty Simpson, five fumbles lost, six total for the year."

Despite the pushback, Orlovsky has since doubled down on his argument, saying, "It’s a traits versus tape argument for me." So, the debate won't die soon.

In the end, Ryan Poles was the only GM in attendance at Alabama Pro Day. Seeing as he's running the Chicago Bears, it's safe to say he doesn't want to find a quarterback. Reports went on to say that no head coaches were in attendance either.

On the surface, it's a bit strange. Alabama is a program that consistently produces NFL talent. So, it would stand to reason that those Crimson Tide players deserve a closer look from NFL decision makers. However, it's also worth pointing out that many chose to go to Ohio State instead. 

Still, for Simpson, this could be a bad sign. It stands to reason that teams would want to take a very close look at a quarterback they were considering using a first-round pick on, and Ohio State doesn't have a quarterback going pro. So, he should have been the show that Pro Day. If that's the case, it makes the Orlovsky argument that Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza look silly.

Of course, the NFL Draft is unpredictable, and stranger things have happened. Simpson could still be a high pick. You'd just assume the top decision makers would've been in attendance to get a closer look at him if that was going to be the case.