Overview
- Simpson said on David Pollack’s podcast he weighed a reported $6.5 million transfer offer from Miami that he believed would have made him the highest-paid player in college football.
- He said he sought guidance from Nick Saban and then chose to remain in the 2026 NFL Draft with the event set for this week.
- Analyses from CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports say he would need to be selected inside the top 35 to match that offer, and a No. 33 slot could mean about $4.2 million less in near-term cash.
- NBC Sports reports that late–first-round projections could bring a four-year contract worth around $20 million, and NFL rookie deals are fixed by draft slot under a league pay scale.
- Simpson also said Tennessee and Ole Miss discussed offers in the $4–5 million range, highlighting how NIL and the transfer portal now shape top quarterbacks’ choices.