Is report about Jets' Ty Simpson plan an NFL Draft smokescreen?

A recent report indicated that the New York Jets don't have any interest in making Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson the first pick of the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft and instead "could try to leverage the 33rd (overall) pick as Simpson trade bait if he's there" come Friday evening. 

For an update shared on Thursday morning, NFL insider Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports suggested that the Jets may want teams to believe they would be willing to sell what could become the Simpson pick if the polarizing prospect remains on the board through the end of the draft's first round on Thursday night. 

Why the Jets could take Ty Simpson and still leave their options open

"The Jets own the 2027 draft with three first-round picks," Jones wrote. "Taking Simpson this weekend wouldn't preclude them from spending resources next spring on a top prospect. Considering the organization hasn't been able to identify a franchise quarterback across regimes only reinforces the belief it should keep taking shots until it's settled." 

While the 2027 draft class could be loaded with top-tier quarterbacks, some members of the NFL community view Simpson as "a backup that in any other draft would be picked as a backup and only to be a backup." However, some believe the Arizona Cardinals will either move back up into the first round to grab Simpson or hope that he falls to them at overall pick No. 34. The Jets may have something to say about that. 

Could the Jets have nothing to lose in taking a flier on Ty Simpson?

"It is nothing for the Jets -- who own pick No. 33 -- to throw a draft pick at a quarterback this weekend," Jones added. "They have four picks in the top 44 and can manipulate things to get even more in the top 50 to 75. Spending one on the most important position in sports when they have a deeply discounted Geno Smith, a young Brady Cook and a veteran backup Bailey Zappe on the depth chart is not out of the realm of possibility."

Of course, such takes may not matter if some team makes a move to acquire Simpson late in the draft's first round.