According to a person close to Simpson, Miami sent theAlabamaquarterback an offer to be the highest-paid player in college football at $6.5 million. The Hurricanes' official offer started at $4 million and quickly ballooned to $5 million within minutes before reaching the current offer.
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TennesseeandOle Miss, according to the source, offered Simpson $4 million.
In 2025, Simpson's base salary atAlabamawas $400,000, according to a person close to Simpson. It doubled to $800,000 with incentives.
Brendan Sorsby: Cincinnati to Texas Tech. Considered the top QB in the portal by many, the native Texas will head back to the Lone Star State to lead the Red Raiders hopes of getting back to the CFP.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
Josh Hoover: TCU to Indiana. He originally committed to IU out of high school but went to TCU instead. He'll be the replacement for Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
Byrum Brown: South Florida to Auburn. He put up big numbers over three seasons with the Bulls and will follow coach Alex Golesh to the SEC.
(Stew Milne, Getty Images)
Drew Mestemaker: North Texas to Oklahoma State. He went from high school backup to the nation's leading passer, Mestemaker will follow coach Eric Morris to Stillwater.
(Kevin M. Cox, Getty Images)
Rocco Becht: Iowa State to Penn State. Another quarterback following his coach to a new job, Becht will team up with Matt Campbell in State College.
(David Purdy, Getty Images)
Austin Simmons: Ole Miss to Missouri. He got injured in second game this season, opening the door for Trinidad Chambliss to become the starter.
(Jason Clark, Getty Images)
Kenny Minchey: Notre Dame to Kentucky. A day after committing to Nebraska, Minchey changed his mind and picked Will Stein's Wildcats.
(MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE)
Colton Joseph: Old Dominion to Wisconsin. The Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year produced 34 total touchdowns this past season and gives the Badgers a much-needed boost under center.
(Brian Bishop-Imagn Images)
Ethan Grunkemeyer: Penn State to Virginia Tech. He filled in after Drew Allar's season-ending injury and will follow James Franklin to Blacksburg.
(Scott Taetsch, Getty Images)
Aaron Philo: Georgia Tech to Florida. After serving as Haynes King's backup, Philo will look to earn the starting job for Jon Sumrall's Gators.
(Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
Cutter Boley: Kentucky to Arizona State. Sam Leavitt's departure leaves a big void under center for Kenny Dillingham's Sun Devils. Boley hopes to fill it.
(Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images)
Katin Houser: East Carolina to Illinois. Houser will get a chance to fill the shoes of graduated Illini QB Luke Altmyer.
(James Guillory-Imagn Images)
Alonza Barnett III: James Madison to UCF. After leading the Dukes into the College Football Playoff, Barnett gets his shot in the Big 12.
(Tom Hauck, Getty Images)
Jaden Craig: Harvard to TCU. The Ivy League star will be looked upon to fill the void left by Josh Hoover's transfer to Indiana.
(Getty Images)
Lincoln Kienholz: Ohio State to Louisville. After backing up Julian Sayin in Columbus, Kienholz heads to QB guru Jeff Brohm in Louisville.
(Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch)
1/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Brendan Sorsby: Cincinnati to Texas Tech. Considered the top QB in the portal by many, the native Texas will head back to the Lone Star State to lead the Red Raiders hopes of getting back to the CFP.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
1/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Brendan Sorsby: Cincinnati to Texas Tech. Considered the top QB in the portal by many, the native Texas will head back to the Lone Star State to lead the Red Raiders hopes of getting back to the CFP.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
2/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Josh Hoover: TCU to Indiana. He originally committed to IU out of high school but went to TCU instead. He'll be the replacement for Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
3/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Byrum Brown: South Florida to Auburn. He put up big numbers over three seasons with the Bulls and will follow coach Alex Golesh to the SEC.
(Stew Milne, Getty Images)
4/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Drew Mestemaker: North Texas to Oklahoma State. He went from high school backup to the nation's leading passer, Mestemaker will follow coach Eric Morris to Stillwater.
(Kevin M. Cox, Getty Images)
5/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Rocco Becht: Iowa State to Penn State. Another quarterback following his coach to a new job, Becht will team up with Matt Campbell in State College.
(David Purdy, Getty Images)
6/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Austin Simmons: Ole Miss to Missouri. He got injured in second game this season, opening the door for Trinidad Chambliss to become the starter.
(Jason Clark, Getty Images)
7/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Kenny Minchey: Notre Dame to Kentucky. A day after committing to Nebraska, Minchey changed his mind and picked Will Stein's Wildcats.
(MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE)
8/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Colton Joseph: Old Dominion to Wisconsin. The Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year produced 34 total touchdowns this past season and gives the Badgers a much-needed boost under center.
(Brian Bishop-Imagn Images)
9/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Ethan Grunkemeyer: Penn State to Virginia Tech. He filled in after Drew Allar's season-ending injury and will follow James Franklin to Blacksburg.
(Scott Taetsch, Getty Images)
10/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Aaron Philo: Georgia Tech to Florida. After serving as Haynes King's backup, Philo will look to earn the starting job for Jon Sumrall's Gators.
(Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
11/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Cutter Boley: Kentucky to Arizona State. Sam Leavitt's departure leaves a big void under center for Kenny Dillingham's Sun Devils. Boley hopes to fill it.
(Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images)
12/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Katin Houser: East Carolina to Illinois. Houser will get a chance to fill the shoes of graduated Illini QB Luke Altmyer.
(James Guillory-Imagn Images)
13/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Alonza Barnett III: James Madison to UCF. After leading the Dukes into the College Football Playoff, Barnett gets his shot in the Big 12.
(Tom Hauck, Getty Images)
14/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Jaden Craig: Harvard to TCU. The Ivy League star will be looked upon to fill the void left by Josh Hoover's transfer to Indiana.
(Getty Images)
15/15
See which top QBs are on the move in busy college football transfer portal
Lincoln Kienholz: Ohio State to Louisville. After backing up Julian Sayin in Columbus, Kienholz heads to QB guru Jeff Brohm in Louisville.
(Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch)
As of Sunday, Jan. 11, Simpson is not in the NCAA transfer portal. He also has not yet signed his NFL paperwork, but is preparing to travel to Mobile for the 2026 Senior Bowl.
According to the source, Simpson and his family have had "restless hours" talking through offers received. But the expectation is for Simpson to remain in the NFL draft as one of the top three quarterbacks on the board along withIndiana's Fernando Mendoza and Oregon's Dante Moore.
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In the 2025 draft, theNew York Giantssigned formerOle MissquarterbackJaxson Dartto a four-year, $17-million contract with a $9 million signing bonus, all of which was guaranteed, per ESPN. Dart was drafted 25th overall.
Simpson is also pulled to having his legacy being tied toAlabamaand the Crimson Tide being his alma mater in the NFL.
In 2025, Simpson led the SEC with 305 completions and 473 pass attempts. He had 3,567 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns and five interceptions.
Colin Gay coversAlabama footballfor The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him atcgay@gannett.comor follow him@_ColinGayon X, formerly known as Twitter.
