The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. Bowl scheduling allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the CFP First Round: Alabama at Oklahoma.
Ty Simpson, QB
Simpson joined Alabama in 2022 as a highly-recruited prospect. He played in four games, but redshirted in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, he played sparingly as a backup quarterback. This season has been his first as a starter. He has passed for 3,268 yards, 26 touchdowns and five interceptions on 64.3 percent completion.
At 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, Simpson can add some weight, but has decent enough size for the NFL. He has shown good accuracy to the intermediate part of the field this season. Simpson cooled off down the stretch, which could make his NFL Draft decision more complicated. Does he enter the draft and maybe be a day two or three pick? Or does he return to Alabama or transfer?
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
Kadyn Proctor, OT
Proctor was a great prospect out of Iowa who signed with Alabama in 2023. He played left tackle as a true freshman and was an All-SEC Freshman Team selection. After briefly transferring to Iowa, Proctor returned to Alabama for the 2024 season. He was named Second Team All-SEC that season. This season, he returned at left tackle and was named First Team All-SEC.
At 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds, Proctor has great size for an NFL offensive tackle. He has great strength and can anchor well. Proctor has to make sure his pad level stays down and there is a chance he moves inside to guard due to lack of mobility. Currently, he is projected to be an early round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick-Second Round Pick
Other Draft Prospects: EDGE LT Overton (1st-2nd), WR Germie Bernard (2nd-3rd), LB Deontae Lawson (2nd-4th), CB Domani Jackson (3rd-5th), IOL Parker Brailsford (3rd-5th), S Keon Sabb (4th-6th), S Bray Hubbard (4th-6th), DL Tim Keenan (4th-6th), IOL Jaeden Roberts (4th-6th), RB Jam Miller (5th-7th), EDGE Yhonzae Pierre (5th-7th), TE Josh Cuevas (5th-7th), LB Justin Jefferson (6th-UFA), DL James Smith (6th-UFA), CB Cam Calhoun (UFA), EDGE Jordan Renaud (UFA), EDGE Keon Keeley (UFA), WR Isaiah Horton (UFA), IOL Wilkin Formby (UFA), EDGE Qua Rusaw (UFA)
R Mason Thomas, EDGE
Thomas started his career at Oklahoma in 2022. He played sparingly in his first two seasons with the Sooners. In 2024, he took a big jump in his production. He registered 23 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. This season, he has 23 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He has been injured and didn’t play the last few weeks of the regular season.
At 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds, Thomas is undersized for an NFL edge rusher. He has a quick first step and has the ability to bend around the edge. Thomas may not be a fit for every defense because of his size though. His play should warrant him being selected in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick-Second Round Pick
John Mateer, QB
Mateer backed up Cam Ward at Washington State in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he took over the starting job at Washington State. He impressed by passing for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 64.6 percent completion. Mateer also rushed for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns. This season at Oklahoma, he has passed for 2,578 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 62.1 percent completion in 11 games played. he rushed for 416 yards and seven touchdowns.
At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, Mateer is short for an NFL quarterback, but has a well-built frame, which suits him well because of his rushing ability. He has been inconsistent as a passer, but his dual-threat abilities help him. Mateer is a redshirt junior who may elect to go back to school to try to improve his stock.
Projected Draft Range: Third Round Pick-Fifth Round Pick
Other Draft Prospects: WR Deion Burks (3rd-5th), DL Gracen Halton (4th-6th), RB Jaydn Ott (6th-UFA), LB Sammy Omosigho (6th-UFA), TE Jaren Karnak (6th-UFA), S Robert Spears-Jennings (6th-UFA), IOL Febechi Nwaiwu (6th-UFA), S Kendall Daniels (6th-UFA), S Peyton Bowen (6th-UFA), EDGE Marvin Jones (UFA), EDGE Adepoju Adebawore (UFA), DL Damonic Williams (UFA), CB Jacobe Johnson (UFA), OT Derek Simmons (UFA), CB Gentry Williams (UFA)
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