Jets Hit the QB Reset Button Again - Could Ty Simpson Be the Answer This Time?
Here we go again. The New York Jets are back in familiar territory: searching for a quarterback. For a franchise that’s spent the better part of the last two decades trying to solve the most important position in football, this offseason brings yet another reset.
Last year, the Jets made what they hoped would be a stabilizing move by signing Justin Fields to a two-year deal. The idea was simple - give Fields a fresh start and finally put an end to the team’s quarterback carousel.
But once again, inconsistency crept in. Fields flashed at times but ultimately couldn’t hold onto the job, getting benched in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor.
It was a move that said everything about where the team stood: still searching, still unsettled.
Now, armed with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets were widely expected to target Oregon’s Dante Moore - a highly touted prospect who checked a lot of boxes for a QB-needy team. But Moore’s decision to return to school threw a wrench into that plan, and with no clear-cut top-tier quarterback available at No. 2, the Jets are reportedly shifting their focus to the second round.
That brings us to Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
In a recent seven-round mock draft, the Jets are projected to use the first pick of the second round - No. 32 overall - to take a swing on Simpson. And while he may not have the same pre-draft hype as some of the top-tier signal-callers in recent years, there’s reason to believe the Jets might be onto something here.
Let’s break it down.
Simpson put up solid numbers in his lone season as Alabama’s starter, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He led the SEC in both pass attempts and completions, showing a clear willingness to push the ball downfield.
That kind of volume in the toughest conference in college football, especially in a pro-style offense, is no small feat. He’s battle-tested and unafraid - two traits that will serve him well at the next level.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Simpson’s play dipped late in the year, raising some questions about consistency and decision-making under pressure.
Still, the physical tools are there. He’s got the arm talent, the size, and the athleticism to make plays both in and out of structure.
And while the lack of extended starting experience is a concern - one year as a starter isn’t much - the context matters. He did it at Alabama, under the microscope, against top-tier competition.
For a team like the Jets, who’ve struggled to develop quarterbacks in recent years, fit and infrastructure are going to be critical. And believe it or not, things might not be as bleak as they seem.
The offensive line is young and improving. There’s a legitimate star on the outside in Garrett Wilson, who can make life a lot easier for a young quarterback.
And with Fields still under contract through 2026, the Jets don’t necessarily have to rush Simpson onto the field. They can let him develop, pick his spots, and grow into the role - something this franchise hasn’t always been patient enough to do in the past.
Make no mistake: this isn’t a slam dunk. Simpson is a bet on upside in a quarterback class that doesn’t have many sure things. But if the Jets are willing to play the long game - and build around him the right way - this could finally be the move that stabilizes the position.
They’ve been down this road before. But maybe, just maybe, this time will be different.