A quarterback has entered the 2026 NFL Draft, and that is great news for the New York Jets.
ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel was the first to share the news on social media that Alabama passer Ty Simpson “is going pro.”
He informed the Alabama coaching staff of his decision on Wednesday, January 7.
NFL analyst Will Parkinson explained that the increased number of quarterbacks entering the draft is good news for the Jets.
Social Media Reacts to Simpson News
“Another option for the Jets. Could he be in play with the 16th pick? Simpson has only 15 college starts, all this season. Career: 28 TD passes, 5 INTs, 523 pass attempts. Very similar experience to Mark Sanchez (16 starts, 487 attempts),” ESPN’s Rich Cimini posted.
“A fascinating decision by Simpson. This QB class is extremely thin. He has a real chance to be one of the first QBs taken after Fernando Mendoza (and Dante Moore, Jr. if he declares). On the other hand, his tape really tapered off in the back half of the season. Tricky eval,” ESPN’s Field Yates said.
“Too early to say, of course, but back half of round one feels like the right place for the conversation to begin. (In his most recent mock, @FieldYates had him in the mid-20’s.),” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said.
“Guessing Simpson may go mid-late first round. He & his reps must have figured at his age & with a weak QB class, it was better to strike now than to wait,” Scott Mason of Play Like A Jet said.
“Fascinated by Ty Simpson’s decision. He definitely has NFL ability, but very few starts and especially struggled under pressure due to that lack of experience. NFL isn’t a developmental league for top picks, so I thought returning to school (Alabama or transfer) was the best route. But did he get Rd1 feedback from the league? Or is this just about a weaker QB class?,” PFF’s lead NFL draft analyst, Trevor Sikkema, said.
Jets Fans Are Awaiting Another Key Decision From a QB
This Simpson news is noteworthy, but the real QB decision that the Jets and their fans are waiting for is Oregon’s Dante Moore.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid said the deadline for underclassmen to declare is January 14. That deadline extends to January 23 for players who participate in the National Championship game.
If Moore enters the draft, he is expected to be the No. 2 overall pick by the Jets. In that scenario, Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman told me on “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital” that Simpson would likely go in the teens or the 20s in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.
However, if Moore doesn’t enter the draft, Wasserman told me that Simpson’s draft stock could skyrocket due to the supply and demand of the quarterback position.
“Absoltuley. I think between the Jets and the [Arizona] Cardinals, and maybe even the Cleveland Browns, depending on what they think of this class,” Wasserman told me. “I think it is absolutely possible he could go in the top five [picks].”
In other words, this Simpson news could have massive ripple effects on what happens with the Jets in the draft.
Jets Get Great News After QB NFL Draft Announcement