ESPN mock draft predicts Jets' pick Ty Simpson at the top of Round 2

If Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson is not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft’s first round, ESPN’s Matt Miller believes the New York Jets could take the former 5-star recruit early on Day 2.

In his March 30 mock draft, Miller projected the Jets will add Simpson at No. 33, the first pick of the second round. Simpson, who threw only 50 passes in his first three seasons at Alabama, posted a 64.5% completion percentage, 3,567 yards, and a 28-5 TD-INT ratio for the Crimson Tide last year.

“Simpson is a talented distributor who is accurate in a clean pocket but struggled down the stretch,” Miller wrote. “His questionable decision-making could drop him to Round 2.”

Simpson was the second quarterback off the board in Miller’s latest mock, with Indiana Hoosiers standout Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Jets would be taking a risk by possibly letting Simpson fall to the second round

To be clear, I’m not advocating that the Jets pick Simpson, nor am I saying that they should look elsewhere for a quarterback. However, as Miller noted, the Jets would lose out on the fifth-year option if they do not select Simpson in the first round. Instead, he would sign a standard four-year rookie contract and could be extended after the 2028 season.

Miller urged the Jets not to trade up for Simpson and give up future draft picks in what he believes will be a stellar 2027 draft class, and I agree … at least, with part of Miller’s reasoning.

The only way the Jets could justify trading up for Simpson is if they truly believe that he would not just be a long-term franchise quarterback, but also if they’re willing to either name him the Day 1 starter or put him in competition with Geno Smith. It is worth noting that head coach Aaron Glenn recently confirmed that Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Seahawks, is the Jets’ starting quarterback.

Although no one expects Geno Smith to be an above-average quarterback next season, his presence should, in theory, keep Simpson from being thrown into the fire early. It’d be interesting to see whether Glenn and the Jets would have Simpson open the year as Smith’s backup, or if he’d be the No. 3 behind Brady Cook, Bailey Zappe, or a to-be-determined veteran quarterback.

Other possible Day 2 options could include LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier or Penn State’s Drew Allar, both of whom Miller predicted would be second-round picks. Miller proposed the Steelers take Nussmeier at No. 53, with the Rams following shortly thereafter and picking Allar at No. 61.