The New York Jets are surrounded by speculation about their No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the talk has reached a fever pitch. For months, mock drafts and analysts have heavily linked the quarterback-needy Jets to Alabama standout Ty Simpson.
With a glaring hole under center, taking a premier signal-caller at the top of the board seemed like a foregone conclusion. However, recent developments and insider revelations suggest the Jets might completely bypass the quarterback position this April.
Why the Jets Might Pass on Drafting QB Ty Simpson
The rumor mill went into overdrive earlier this week following reports that the Jets’ front office hosted dynamic playmaker Jeremiyah Love for a breakfast meeting that reportedly went exceptionally well.
The news immediately sparked debate across the league: Is this genuine interest, a classic pre-draft smokescreen designed to bait another team into a trade-up, or could New York actually pull off a stunner by drafting Love with the second overall selection?
When asked whether the Jets might actually make such a surprising move and pass on a highly touted quarterback like Simpson, prominent NFL insider Albert Breer poured cold water on the idea of a quick fix, pointing instead to a massive, long-term rebuild happening in East Rutherford.
“I would be pretty surprised here. There are a couple of reasons why,” Breer responded. “The first one is just where they’re at as a team. And I think that this is where the question of what positions you’re taking that high in the draft comes into focus. Over the course of a four-year period from 2019 to 2022, the Jets had seven first round picks. There is only one of those first round picks remaining on their roster.
“Last year, they traded Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams away. This offseason, they’ve traded Jermaine Johnson away. They’ve got five first round picks over the next two years. This is going to be a process. they probably won’t get their quarterback of the future this year. That means they’ll be looking to get their quarterback of the future next year and what should be a loaded draft at the position.”
Breer’s assessment paints a stark picture of the Jets’ current organizational philosophy. By moving on from foundational cornerstones in recent years, the front office has essentially hit the reset button.
Armed with five first-round selections over the next two drafts, New York is signaling a multi-year reconstruction project rather than taking a desperate swing at a franchise quarterback in 2026.
For Alabama’s Ty Simpson, this strategic shift drastically alters the landscape at the top of the draft board. If the Jets pass at No. 2, Simpson could slide down the board or become the primary target of a team willing to trade up into New York’s slot.
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Simpson has been a topic of debate this offseason. He has only one year as a starter at Alabama, which makes his inconsistent performances difficult to dissect. According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact metric, Simpson ranked 25th in 2025 with a score of 85.4.
Ultimately, the Jets appear determined to build a robust, comprehensive roster foundation before dropping a rookie quarterback into the fray. By delaying their pursuit of a franchise savior until the projected “loaded” 2027 class, New York is asking its fanbase for patience as they trust the painful but necessary process of a total roster overhaul.
