Ty Simpson Turned Down $6.5M From Miami and Chose the Draft Instead. Here's What He Needs to Prove It Was the Right Call

Ty Simpson had life-changing money on the table. Miami dangled $6.5M in front of the former Alabama quarterback in January, trying to lure him into the transfer portal the same way they landed Cam Ward and Carson Beck. Simpson actually considered it. But he picked up the phone and called Nick Saban instead.

That conversation changed everything. Saban asked him a simple question: do you want to play college football, or professional football? Simpson didn't hesitate. He wanted the NFL. So he stayed in the 2026 draft, turned down the cash, and now the clock is ticking on whether that call to his old coach was genius or the biggest what-if of his career.

The Money Math is Real Simple

According to Spotrac, Simpson needs to hear his name called in the top 35 selections this week for his rookie contract to match or exceed Miami's offer. That's not a top-10 pick. That's not even guaranteed. He's the consensus second-best quarterback available behind Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, and in a weak QB class, that matters more than you'd think.

The Browns have been linked to him at No. 24 overall, and Pete Prisco has him landing in Cleveland in the latest mock drafts. The Steelers, Cardinals, Jets, and Rams are also in the conversation. But here's the thing: if he slides past pick 35, that $6.5M decision gets a lot harder to defend.

Why Scouts Are Taking Him Seriously

Simpson only missed one throw at the NFL Combine this year. One. His accuracy was elite, the same thing that showed up on tape during his final season at Alabama after he won the starting job over Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell.

"I want to be the face of a franchise and lead a locker room," Simpson said on the podcast "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack." That confidence matters when you're betting your financial future on yourself. Four different CBS Sports analysts believe he goes in the first round. The combine performance gave scouts something to lean on in what everybody agrees is a thin quarterback class overall.

Miami moved on and landed Duke transfer Darian Mensah after settling their legal dispute with the Blue Devils. Simpson's bet is that playing professional football, even if the payday is smaller at first, beats taking the college money and walking away from his dream. We find out this week if Saban's advice was worth $6.5 million.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.