McAfee Rips Orlovsky’s QB1 Take: “Ty Simpson Is #1!”

McAfee Clashes with Orlovsky Over Top Quarterback Prospect

The debate over the top quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft is heating up, and Pat McAfee isn’t holding back. On his show, McAfee directly challenged ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky’s strong stance that Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is the number one quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft class. Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback himself, passionately defended his take, leading to a lively and at times heated exchange with McAfee.

Orlovsky’s Bold Prediction

The conversation kicked off with McAfee referencing a hypothetical draft scenario where the Las Vegas Raiders select Ty Simpson with the first pick. This immediately prompted McAfee to question Orlovsky’s reasoning. “Are you trying to predict what’s going to happen on draft night by what you’re actually hearing around NFL buildings? Or are you going off the film that you watched and how you think that Ty Simpson’s going to be a better NFL quarterback?” McAfee asked.

Orlovsky clarified that his opinion is based on his evaluation of the tape and the player’s traits. He expressed his belief that Ty Simpson possesses the qualities that translate best to the NFL. “I am confident that in my opinion, Ty Simpson’s trait uh tapes are more impressive. His tape is more impressive to me,” Orlovsky stated. He believes Simpson dominated more games and was asked to perform actions that are common in the NFL, suggesting he had to elevate his team more often.

McAfee’s Skepticism and Counterarguments

McAfee, while acknowledging Simpson’s potential, expressed surprise at Orlovsky’s conviction, noting that most analysts and NFL personnel seem to favor other prospects. He pointed out that the consensus seems to be leaning towards a different player, often described as a “6’5 240lb guy who won a national championship.” This was a clear reference to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has generated significant buzz.

“It seems like everybody on earth except for you is pretty much in the department of like the 6’5 240lb guy who won a national championship for IU is the number one guy,” McAfee said, challenging Orlovsky to defend his position against the broader opinion.

The ‘Traits vs. Tape’ Debate

Orlovsky dug deeper into his reasoning, framing the debate as a battle between ‘traits versus tape.’ He argued that while traits are important, he believes Simpson’s tape is superior. “I would argue that the traits are secondary for quarterback play, unless you’re going to be a top five pick,” Orlovsky explained. He emphasized that he’s not saying Mendoza isn’t good, but that his evaluation leads him to believe Simpson is the better prospect.

McAfee countered by highlighting Mendoza’s performance in big games, particularly his success against strong defenses like Ohio State’s and Alabama’s. He questioned Orlovsky’s assessment of Mendoza’s biggest moments, pointing to Mendoza’s performance in the Big Ten Championship game where Indiana was down significantly before a comeback. “The biggest games, Pat? The college football playoffs. That’s the Now you’re playing possum,” Orlovsky retorted when McAfee questioned what Mendoza’s biggest games were.

Agent Influence and Motives

The conversation also touched on the influence of agents and potential motives behind Orlovsky’s strong take. McAfee suggested that perhaps Orlovsky was being influenced by agents, a notion Orlovsky vehemently denied.

“I am not nearly important enough to CIA financially for them to pay me to say something about guy who might be the 20th pick in the draft,” Orlovsky stated emphatically. “So, I’m just it’s not worth them. I don’t make enough money for them to pay me money to say that.” He insisted there was no ulterior motive and that his opinions are based solely on his football analysis.

Looking Ahead

Despite the disagreement, both McAfee and Orlovsky agreed that time will tell who is right. Orlovsky acknowledged that he’s not always right but stressed the importance of not being afraid to be wrong in the media business. McAfee concluded by appreciating Orlovsky’s passion and willingness to defend his controversial take.

“We appreciate your genuine respect for the profession in which you have, you know, because you’re watching every film and you’re telling your brain, man, if I say that, you know, everybody’s going to and your brain’s like, you got to do it,” McAfee said. “Well, I firmly believe if you are scared to be wrong, you will never strain to be right. And I like being right.”

The draft is still weeks away, and the debate over Ty Simpson and Fernando Mendoza is far from over. Orlovsky’s strong conviction has certainly added fuel to the fire, making the quarterback evaluation process even more compelling to watch.

“I am confident that in my opinion, Ty Simpson’s trait uh tapes are more impressive. His tape is more impressive to me.” – Dan Orlovsky

“It seems like everybody on earth except for you is pretty much in the department of like the 6’5 240lb guy who won a national championship for IU is the number one guy.” – Pat McAfee

Source: Pat McAfee Calls Out Dan Orlovsky For "Ty Simpson Is The #1 QB" Take; Dan Gets HEATED (YouTube)