Should the New York Jets consider this former SEC standout quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft?
With the New York Jets now entering the offseason, general manager Darren Mougey and the front office will be tasked with rebuilding the roster before the 2026 NFL season.
While there are many needs for the struggling franchise on both sides of the ball, it’s obvious that there is one position that fans are looking for clarity: who will be the next starting quarterback?
The Jets were able to land both the No. 2 pick and the No. 18 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, thanks to a 3-14 record and a trade that sent star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. This now puts the front office in a prime spot to address the quarterback position in the draft, which is something the organization has not done since 2021 with Zach Wilson.
However, while many fans believed that Mougey and company would wind up selecting Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore with the No. 2 pick, his recent performance in the 2025 College Football Playoffs has people speculating that he could return for another season.
And with Indiana Hoosiers’ quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza being a lock to go No. 1, New York may need to look elsewhere for their starting quarterback.
Luckily, there is one name that has surprisingly popped up in draft conversations, and that is former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, who recently declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Simpson, in his first season as the starting quarterback for Alabama, began to build his case as a first-round quarterback. Despite facing adversity towards the end of the 2025 season, the young gunslinger managed to throw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games this year.
At 6-foot-2, 208 lbs., Simpson was able to display his strong accuracy for a majority of the season, but with rumors regarding his health near the end of the year, it was clear that he was not in his best form come playoff time.
Now, with Simpson throwing his name into the ring, New York must decide if he is the future of the franchise before April.
Looking at what the Jets could do in the upcoming draft, the decision will come down to whether or not Moore declares for the draft. If he chooses to move on from Oregon, it should be a no-brainer for the front office to take Moore with the No. 2 pick. His combination of accuracy, arm strength, and mobility gives him the highest ceiling amongst all the quarterbacks in the draft.
On the other hand, if Moore stays in school for another year, Simpson could be an intriguing option for the Jets. Simpson is not projected to be a top pick in the upcoming draft, which means the organization could use its second first-round pick to take him. This would allow Mougey to use the No. 2 pick on a key defensive piece, such as Ohio State’s Avrell Reese or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.