With Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza the odds-on No. 1 overall draft pick likely headed to the Las Vegas Raiders, and with the Jets holding the Nos. 2 and 16 picks in the first round and two more in the second round, GM Darren Mougey said he plans to leave no stone unturned when it comes strengthening the team's QB room.
Entering the new league year, the Green & White currently has three signal-callers under contract -- Justin Fields, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor will be eligible for free agency. With Mendoza expected to be off the board early, that will leave the Jets to consider free agents, possible trades and certainly promising talents among the QBs available in April's NFL Draft.
One of those definite maybes, Ty Simpson, met with the Jets at this week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis and said the encounter "was great."
"Just talking ball, getting to know each other" Simpson, 23, said. "Coach [Aaron] Glenn is a super, juiceful guy. Just getting on the board is really what I like.
"I really love the Jets, really blessed to have a meeting with them, and if I have the opportunity to play in New York – they're going to get the best Ty Simpson they can get."
If there are any doubts about Simpson's viability as an NFL quarterback, it's because he was a starter at Alabama for only one season. In 2025, he completed 305-of-473 passes (64.5%) for 3,567 yards, 28 TDs and 5 INT in leading the Crimson Tide to an 11-4 record. Alabama made it to the quarterfinals of the CFB Playoffs, losing to Indiana and Mendoza, 38-3 in the Rose Bowl.
At 6-2, and 208 pounds, Simpson acknowledged that he would like to put on weight and has been chowing down.
"So a lot of eating, a lot of three meals, four meals a day, shakes, just getting in the routine of life, getting up in the morning, eating, drinking chocolate milk, eating lunch, eating the right meal, adding a shake to that dinner, eating, adding the salad," he said. "A routine. You know, sometimes throughout the season you get caught up in a lot of stuff. So, the routine I have is pretty good now."
Coming out of Westview HS in Martin, TN, Simpson was the state's Gatorade Player of the Year. He chose Alabama over Ole Miss, Clemson and Tennessee, but ended up appearing in only 16 games and attempting 50 passes in his first three seasons.
"Alabama's the best place to get you prepared for the NFL," he said. "I fully believe that. Anybody who goes through there is going to be NFL ready."
And he believes he fills the bill on that count.
"I'm ready. I'm a franchise quarterback," he said. "Alabama prepares you most for the NFL. I've run an NFL-type system. It definitely prepared me for saying those long play calls, saying those checks, making sure that I get us in the right [offensive line] protection.
"I've played against really good NFL players. I think about my freshman year, learning from the No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner [Bryce Young]. Going [against] defense on scout team, I got Will Anderson, Dallas Turner, Henry To'oTo'o. I got Kool-Aid [McKinstry] on one side and Terrion [Arnold] on the other side. There are a number of first- and second-round draft picks that I went against. The Alabama locker room was as close to an NFL locker room as you can get."
Simpson waited his turn at Alabama. He'll wait for his name to be called at the draft in Pittsburgh. Could a team like the Jets wait for him to get his professional wings?
