The conversation around the New York Jets’ offseason plans has heated up as the draft approaches, and even after addressing the quarterback position with Geno Smith, there’s an idea of trying to find another guy under center for the future.
So much so that Rich Cimini of ESPN has reported that New York is looking at every possible avenue to improve at the position for the future. Most of the attention has centered on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, and it makes sense for the Jets now. New York recently met with him, and it sounds like things went well.
“Most of the attention focused on Alabama's Ty Simpson, widely considered the No. 2 quarterback prospect. Simpson spent time in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Thursday night (dinner) and Friday morning (private workout) with the Jets' top decision-makers (general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn) and resident QB gurus (offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave).
“The Jets have two first-round picks (No. 2 and No. 16), and the drama will be thick if Simpson is on the board when the Jets are on the clock. Some might be wondering if the Simpson flirtation is a smokescreen. It's not; there is some level of interest. How much remains to be seen. This much is clear: The Jets are doing a deep dive into the QB class,” he wrote.
Despite the interest in Simpson from the Jets' perspective, not every evaluator is in love with his game. The Jets, if he looks like he did during his time at Alabama, would definitely have to develop him.
"I wouldn't be in a rush to draft a quarterback this year," ESPN’s Jordan Reid said. "Personally, I don't have Simpson rated that high at No. 16 overall. That would be a little bit too rich for me. But if he's there with one of those other picks in the second round (33 and 44), I would feel a little bit better about that."
For the Jets, even with a veteran in place, nothing about their situation is set long-term.
With two first-round picks, the Jets are in a position where they don’t have to force anything. They also simply don’t have to take a quarterback if they don’t want to go down that route.