As the New York Jets continue to navigate their way through the offseason, fans are now beginning to see the franchise’s potential plans in the 2026 NFL Draft.

One of the key issues that must be addressed this offseason by general manager Darren Mougey is the quarterback position. And despite the team’s dreadful 2025 season, the Jets were unable to land the No. 1 pick to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. This now puts the front office in a tough position, as it’s clear that former starting quarterback Justin Fields is not the answer.

However, Mougey is still weighing all his potential options, including Alabama’s Ty Simpson in the upcoming draft. When asked about his meeting with the team, Simpson told reporters that if the Jets select him, “they are going to get the best Ty Simpson they can get.”

“It was great, just talking ball, getting to know each other,” Simpson stated. “Coach Reich is a great, great human being, Coach Glenn is a super juiceful guy. [We got to install] some stuff, and getting to know each other, and just getting on the board is what I like. I really love the Jets, [and I’m] really, really blessed to have a meeting with them, and if I have an opportunity to play in New York, they are going to get the best Ty Simpson they can get.”

After spending the majority of his college career behind the likes of star quarterbacks Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, Simpson earned the starting role for his senior season with Alabama in 2025. Fortunately for the highly-regarded prospect, he would take full advantage of this opportunity, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns, while also completing 64.5 percent of his attempts throughout the 2025 season.

While Simpson managed to put up similar numbers to the projected No. 1 pick in Menzoda, many scouts are concerned with his tape from the back end of the year. In his last seven games with the Crimson Tide, Simpson would reach the 300+ passing yard mark just once in a single game, with many believing that he could have been playing through an injury.

Luckily for the Jets, if the front office truly wants to target the talented Alabama quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, the organization clearly has the draft capital. Depending on how well he performs at the Combine, New York could either use the No. 16 pick or one of the team’s two picks in the second round on Simpson.

If the polarizing gunslinger were to land with the Jets, this would finally give the struggling franchise a young, promising quarterback for the future.

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