Alabama QBs drafted in first round: How Ty Simpson can join Tua Tagovailoa, Bryce Young, more in company originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson has gained some steam in being drafted in the first round.

While Alabama does have thorough past talents drafted in the first round, not many of those picks have been from the quarterback position. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only four QBs have been taken in the first round.

At the turn of the millennium, the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Carolina Panthers all took chances on former Crimson Tide members. While the results from those quarterbacks are quite lackluster compared to the rest of the league, all of those quarterbacks are still playing in the NFL.

With that said, here is a deep dive into Alabama's first-round QB talents in the NFL Draft and the group Simpson may join.

MORE: Where is Ty Simpson projected to be drafted this year?

While having a highly-touted reputation of NFL prospects, the QB position is one of Alabama's least drafted in the first round. The team has seen numerous running backs, wide receivers, and defensive players taken within the first 32 picks, but since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only four QBs have been taken in the first round.

Ahead of this year's draft, many sports personalities believe Simpson will become the latest. He would be the first Alabama QB taken in the first round since Bryce Young in 2023.

"Ty Simpson is among 16 player who will attend the draft in Pittsburgh... Generally if they're inviting you to the draft, that means the NFL thinks Ty Simpson is going to go in the 1st round."@colincowherd thinks all signs point to Simpson being a 1st round pick pic.twitter.com/H4o8gXcUJD

Here is the full list of former Crimson Tide quarterbacks taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

After the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, Richard Todd became the first Alabama quarterback taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. He was taken No. 6 overall by the New York Jets and began his career backing up Joe Namath, another Alabama alum. Namath was drafted five years prior to the merger.

In his career, Todd threw for 20,610 yards, 124 touchdowns, and 161 interceptions with the Jets and New Orleans Saints.

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Alabama had to wait 44 years until one of its former quarterbacks was taken in the first round. Tua Tagovailoa ended the streak after he was taken No. 5 overall by the Dolphins in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Hawaiian native began his career backing up Ryan Fitzpatrick, but became a starter ahead of Week 8. Ahead of the upcoming 2026 season, he departed from the Dolphins organization and signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. As it currently stands, Tagovailoa is the only Crimson Tide quarterback taken in the first round of the NFL to have a career winning record (44-32).

To date in his career, Tagovailoa has thrown for 18,166 yards, 120 touchdowns, and 59 interceptions with the Dolphins.

A year after Tagovailoa was drafted in the first round, Mac Jones followed suit after he was taken No. 15 overall by the Patriots. He became the first Patriot quarterback drafted in the first round since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. He instantly became a starter for the 2021 season. After three seasons as a starter, Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars and has had backup stints in Jacksonville and currently backs up Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers.

Following the 2025 season, Jones has thrown for 12,741 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 50 interceptions with the Patriots, Jaguars, and 49ers.

Bryce Young is currently Alabama's most recent quarterback taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. He was taken No. 1 overall by the Panthers and became the first Crimson Tide QB taken with the first pick after the AFL-NFL merger. Young led Carolina to its first playoff appearance since 2017, before narrowly falling to the Los Angeles Rams.

To date, Young has accumulated 8,291 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions through his three-year career.

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