Executive reveals how NFL teams may view Ty Simpson amid draft-stock chatter

While analyst Dan Orlovsky believes that Alabama Crimson Tide star Ty Simpson "is the best quarterback" in this year's draft class, whispers continue to suggest that Simpson will fall to the second round of the player-selection process. 

NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently echoed Orlovsky and noted that Simpson's "tape shows him doing far more 'NFL things' than Fernando Mendoza," who presumably will become a member of the Las Vegas Raiders as the draft's first overall pick. For a piece published on Wednesday, one unnamed AFC executive spoke with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN about why Simpson is such a polarizing prospect this spring. 

"Not a good history" of quarterbacks such as Ty Simpson succeeding?

"I don't think anything about him other than him being a one-year player is supremely polarizing," the executive said about Simpson. "There's not a good history of it, but I think you've got to take each guy as an individual case."

That executive was referencing how Simpson recorded only 15 starts and, thus, didn't make as many "NFL throws" as advertised during his college career. It's thought that lack of experience could cause clubs such as the New York Jets to pass on Simpson and allow a team with a proven starter atop its depth chart, such as the Philadelphia Eagles or the Los Angeles Rams, to take a flier on the 23-year-old. 

"I don't think anyone expects him to come in right away and be great," the executive added. "If picked in the 20s, he'll get experience and reps and get legs under him. He's a good kid, a coach's kid, had a lot of good production and success. Maybe not on the same tier as top guys, but he's still a player."

Why Ty Simpson may be able to succeed as a rookie

Outside of Orlovsky, analysts from multiple outlets view Mendoza as the undisputed best quarterback of this year's draft class. However, one NFL personnel evaluator seems to think Simpson could find success as a rookie. 

"He made a lot of NFL throws," the evaluator told Fowler. "Some guys were running a glorified high school offense in college, but [Simpson] was throwing deep in-breakers, corners, deep outs, seams, curls."

If Simpson's ceiling is higher than critics think, he could become a steal of the upcoming draft.