ESPN can't make up their mind on Jets target Ty Simpson's first-round status

The New York Jets have been connected to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson ever since Dante Moore went back to Oregon, and now that his Pro Day is in the books, the odds of him being picked in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft remain a subject of debate.

ESPN's Matt Miller put the odds of Simpson being selected in the first round at a slim 25%. Per Miller, the top half of the draft is not full of teams who should be willing to risk it all for a player like Simpson, and it might be risky to surrender 2027 picks in order to move up to select him in the bottom half.

Jordan Reid put the odds of him going in the first round at 75%, citing the lack of quarterback talent in this class. Interestingly, Reid did say that there are "no logical landing spots in the first 16 picks," which includes two different Jets selections.

Field Yates is a bit more optimistic, putting the odds at 90% that Simpson is a first-round player. Yates is of the mindset that too many teams are in need of a quarterback to let someone with Simpson's ceiling drop down the order to the second round.

Possible Jets pick Ty Simpson viewed as likely first-round pick by ESPN

The consensus among Jets fans seems to be that if Simpson somehow falls to the second round, using either No. 33 or No. 44 on him would make a ton of sense. However, many seem to think that such a situation is not tenable, forcing New York to either pick him at No. 16 or miss out.

Not only are there quarterback-needy teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns picking at No. 21 and No. 24 overall, respectively, but both Reid and Yates discussed a situation where the Arizona Cardinals trade back into the first round to select Simpson.

Simpson is a polarizing prospect for the Jets. The lack of starting experience and middling physical profile warrants some concern, but when compared against his tremendous arm talent, pre-snap processing, and accuracy when kept clean, that might not be enough to stop him from being picked high.

While it seems like all signs point to the Jets kicking the quarterback can down the road until the 2027 NFL Draft, Simpson isn't going to go away, and the Jets may end up deciding to go all-in on this move.