Jets and the Quarterback Conundrum: Is Simpson the Sleeper Pick?
Look, every year around this time, the NFL Draft industrial complex kicks into overdrive, and the New York Jets, bless their hearts, are usually right in the thick of the quarterback chatter. This year, with Aaron Rodgers coming back from that torn Achilles, the immediate need isn't quite the same as it's been for, say, the last decade and a half. But Adam Schefter recently floated the idea of the Jets taking a flyer on Ty Simpson, the Alabama kid, and it got people talking.
Here's the thing: Simpson barely played in Tuscaloosa. In 2023, he threw just five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, all against Chattanooga in a 66-10 rout. That’s it. His entire college career consists of 16 pass attempts, 11 completions, 179 yards, and two touchdowns across two seasons. Not exactly a deep resume for a guy who might hear his name called on draft weekend. You’ve got to wonder what scouts are seeing on tape beyond the practice field or high school highlights to even consider him in the mid-to-late rounds.
The Alabama Mystique and Reality
It’s easy to get caught up in the "Alabama quarterback" allure. Nick Saban’s program churns out NFL talent like clockwork, and when a guy like Simpson comes through that system, there’s an immediate assumption of readiness, even if the on-field proof is minimal. Mac Jones had a full starting season in 2020, throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns en route to a national title, before the Patriots took him in the first round. Tua Tagovailoa, even with injury concerns, had two full seasons as a starter, including throwing for 3,966 yards and 43 touchdowns in 2018. Simpson just doesn't have that body of work.
And that’s where the "chance" comes in. The Jets, sitting with Rodgers, don’t need a starter right now. They need a developmental guy, someone who can learn the system, grow, and maybe, just maybe, be the answer a few years down the line. Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, threw 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2023. His career completion percentage sits at a dismal 57%. The Jets can’t afford another high-stakes bust at quarterback, even if it’s a later-round pick. They need to be smarter about this.
Why a Late-Round Flyer Still Matters
Even with Rodgers under center, the Jets’ quarterback depth chart behind him is thin. Tyrod Taylor is a solid backup, but he’s 34. Jordan Travis, a fifth-round pick, tore his ACL in November. Simpson represents a shot at finding someone with raw talent who just needs time and coaching. He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the 2022 class. The talent is there, even if the college production isn’t.
But let’s be real. The Jets have been burned by projects and high-ceiling, low-floor guys for too long. They need a sure thing, even in the later rounds. If they're going to use a pick on a quarterback, it should be someone with at least some college starting experience, someone who’s faced real pressure in real games. Betting on potential alone, especially with their track record, feels like a recipe for repeating old mistakes. My hot take? The Jets will pass on Simpson. They'll look for a more experienced, albeit still developmental, option later in the draft. They need a guy who’s shown *something* on Saturdays.
The Path Forward for Gang Green
The Jets hold the 72nd pick in the third round and the 112th in the fourth. Those are valuable assets. You could argue they'd be better spent on offensive line depth, a position where they’ve also struggled. Alijah Vera-Tucker, their first-round pick in 2021, has played in just 17 games over the last two seasons due to injuries. Protecting Rodgers has to be the top priority.
But if they do decide to roll the dice on a quarterback, it won't be Simpson. They need someone who's at least proven they can manage a college offense, even if it's not a top-tier one. A guy like Sam Howell, who threw for 3,056 yards and 23 touchdowns at North Carolina in 2021, before being drafted in the fifth round by Washington, is a better blueprint for a developmental pick. Simpson, for all his talent, is too much of a blank slate.
I predict the Jets will use a Day 3 pick on a quarterback, but it will be someone with more verifiable college reps than Simpson. They'll target a guy with 20+ starts under his belt, even if it's from a smaller program, to provide a more reliable backup option in the coming years.