Simpson is a rhythm-based, process-driven passer who dissects zone coverages between the numbers as well as any quarterback in this class. His repeatable mechanics, quick feet-to-eyes synchronization, and willingness to make protection calls at the line flash a football IQ that belies his 15-start résumé. But the arm is average — not bad, just ordinary — and it showed down the stretch when defenses schemed against his intermediate tendencies and his accuracy cratered under pressure. He is the quintessential 'right situation' quarterback: put him behind a quality offensive line in a timing-based system and he can start; ask him to improvise or carry a bad roster and the floor drops out. The ceiling is a Mac Jones who stays healthy and lands in a Shanahan-tree offense — the floor is a career backup who never overcomes the limited physical tools.
- Elite footwork-to-eyes synchronization: rhythmic dropbacks consistently married to his progressions, allowing him to throw on platform at the apex of his drop
- Decisive and effective attacking intermediate zone pockets, particularly over the middle of the field — second-most completions among draft-eligible QBs on throws over the middle per PFF
- Repeatable mechanics from snap to snap with a compact delivery and minimal wasted motion — the most mechanically sound QB in this class
- High football IQ: sets protections, recognizes coverages pre-snap, and moves through progressions with pace despite only 15 career starts
- Strong ball security and risk management: just 5 INTs on 473 attempts (1.06% INT rate) with a 102.5 passer rating
- Average arm talent and velocity that limits his success on throws outside the numbers and deep balls — completed only 37% of passes 25+ yards downfield
- Collapses under pressure: 47.6 PFF grade under pressure, gets sped up with jittery footwork leading to erratic ball placement when the pocket breaks down
- Limited starting experience (15 career starts) creates significant projection risk — dramatic first-half/second-half split (21 TD / 1 INT in first 9 games vs. 7 TD / 4 INT in final 6) raises durability and adjustment concerns
- Tendency to hold the ball too long and take unnecessary sacks (3+ sacks in 7 different games), needs to learn when to throw the ball away vs. extending dead plays
Zierlein's official NFL.com comp. Both are Alabama one-year starters with sound mechanics, above-average processing, average arm talent, and questions about translating production to the NFL without a strong supporting cast. Simpson has slightly more mobility than Jones, but the play-style archetype — timing-based intermediate passer who needs a good offensive line and scheme — is a near-perfect match.