Adam Schefter stirred the pot on "Get Up" this week, tossing out Ty Simpson's name as a potential Jets draft pick. And look, after the Zach Wilson experiment imploded faster than a lead balloon in 2023 – remember that Week 11 performance against the Bills where he threw for 81 yards and an interception before being benched? – the Jets are desperate. Aaron Rodgers is back, sure, but he's 40. They need a long-term answer, or at least someone who can throw a spiral without looking like he's trying to win a carnival game.
Simpson, a quarterback out of Alabama, spent his college career mostly as a backup. He saw limited action, completing 16 of 24 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. Not exactly a resume that screams "franchise savior." He's got the physical tools, no doubt – a strong arm, good mobility for his size. But the tape is thin. Real thin. This isn't like drafting Patrick Mahomes who had a monster senior year at Texas Tech, throwing for 5,052 yards. This is a pure projection, a bet on potential that's largely unproven against top-tier competition. The Jets, frankly, don't have a great track record with "potential" at quarterback. Geno Smith showed flashes, but never truly materialized for them. Sam Darnold had moments, but ultimately fizzled out.
Thing is, Alabama quarterbacks, especially those who sit behind other high-profile guys, often get a bump. Bryce Young, Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa – all first-rounders in recent years. But those guys had extensive starting experience and Heisman-level production. Simpson doesn't have that. He's more in the mold of a Jalen Hurts before his Oklahoma transfer, where the physical gifts are undeniable but the on-field reps against SEC defenses are limited. The Jets are sitting with the 10th overall pick and then don't pick again until the third round, 72nd overall. Taking Simpson at 10 would be a seismic shock, bordering on malpractice given their immediate needs elsewhere, like offensive line help. They allowed 64 sacks in 2023, tied for second-worst in the league. Protecting Rodgers is priority number one.
Here's the hot take: the Jets *shouldn't* even consider Simpson before the mid-rounds. Drafting a quarterback who hasn't proven himself as a full-time starter in college, especially after the Wilson debacle, feels like tempting fate. They need a bridge guy for Rodgers' eventual departure, or a true developmental project, not another high-stakes lottery ticket. Look at the success of Brock Purdy, a seventh-round pick, who led the 49ers to the Super Bowl LVIII. Or C.J. Stroud, who was the second overall pick, throwing for 4,511 yards and 23 touchdowns in his rookie year. Both had extensive, successful college careers. Simpson just doesn't have that body of work. The Jets have been burned by unproven talent too many times. They need to break that cycle.
My prediction: The Jets pass on Ty Simpson entirely in the first two days of the draft, opting instead for immediate impact players to protect Rodgers and bolster their already stout defense.