Draft's most polarizing QB prospect's rising stock is only good news for Bears

After Fernando Mendoza held up the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy for Indiana’s 27-21 victory over Miami, it essentially cemented the quarterback’s position to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That could be the case now, but there has been a recent push for Alabama’s Ty Simpson to become the first quarterback drafted. The junior passed for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions last season.

Because this draft class lacks elite quarterback depth, desperate teams are bound to take a shot on Simpson. The higher his stock climbs, the more premium options will become available for Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles.

Bears want Ty Simpson to be successful and be a high first-round draft pick

Regardless of the position the Bears are targeting with their No. 25 overall pick in the first round, Simpson going higher in the draft would create a scenario with one more edge rusher, safety or left tackle as an option for Chicago.

Teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers could all be searching for their quarterbacks of the future. All it takes is one of these teams to make a move on the Alabama quarterback.

If Simpson is still available late in the first, around the Bears’ pick at No. 25, then Chicago could be in the range of a trade-down scenario. That would be enticing for Poles, considering this draft has a strong group of Day 2 prospects.

The Bears still have some needs to fill, so acquiring more picks would help a team that is trying to compete right now.

Another benefit of a team moving up to get Simpson in the first round is that the future team would also gain access to the highly coveted fifth-year option on a rookie contract.

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky has been building up the Simpson hype train as of late, and Bears fans will want him to keep doing so with the hope that the Alabama quarterback goes higher than originally intended.