Ty Simpson met with the New York Jets this week while in attendance at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Jets, of course, hold the No. 2 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. And, up until Dante Moore pulled out of the draft class, most draft experts believed New York would be selecting a quarterback with that No. 2 pick.
The Jets need a franchise quarterback. They haven’t had a guy start 10-plus games in consecutive seasons since Sam Darnold pre-COVID.
Two might be too early for a player like Simpson, who only brings 1 year of collegiate starting experience from his time at Alabama. But the Jets also hold the 16th overall pick thanks to a previous trade.
Simpson has been linked repeatedly to that spot.
At the Combine on Friday, he made his case.
“I feel like I’m ready. I’m a franchise quarterback,” Simpson said, per The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. “Alabama prepares you most for the NFL. … Everybody talks about my starts, but I played in other games besides that. I played against really good NFL players.”
Simpson name-dropped several former Alabama stars he either worked under or worked against every day in practice. As a freshman in 2022, he shared a room with Bryce Young. He mentioned running scout team against Will Anderson Jr., Dallas Turner, Henry To’oTo’o, and Kool-Aid McKinstry. Those 4 combined to make 58 starts during the most recent NFL regular season.
“The Alabama locker room is as close to an NFL locker room as you can get,” Simpson said.
In his debut mock draft in January, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Simpson slated to the Jets at No. 16. In his latest mock draft, published earlier this week, Kiper flipped the pick to a defender, adding that New York holds 3 first-round picks in a better quarterback class next year.
Still, Kiper wrote he “could still it,” regarding Simpson.
Simpson called his meeting with Jets brass “great.” He said he loves the Jets organization.
“If I have an opportunity to play in New York, they’re going to get the best Ty Simpson they can get,” he said.
According to Kalshi, Simpson has a 37% chance to be a top-10 pick. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the only other quarterback still in the class with a better percentage chance on the prediction market.
Mendoza is widely expected to go No. 1. Most believe the Jets will pick a defender with No. 2. However, Simpson clearly believes he’s capable of living up to the selection if New York decides to pivot.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
