Ty Simpson linked with these two teams after Rams chatter

How long Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson will remain available seems destined to become arguably the top overall storyline of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night. 

For a piece published on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter said that "the two teams that seem to be most interested in Simpson are the" New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals.

How far the Cardinals may have to move up to steal Ty Simpson from the Jets

"The Jets hold the No. 16 pick in the middle of Round 1 and the No. 33 pick at the top of Round 2," Schefter explained. "The Cardinals hold No. 34 in Round 2, right behind the Jets. If Arizona wants to leapfrog New York, it could not only land Simpson but also get the fifth-year option on his rookie contract by taking him in Round 1."

The Jets have veteran Geno Smith on track to serve as their QB1 for the 2026 season, while the Cardinals have journeymen Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew preparing to compete for their starting job. None of those three players should be considered a long-term option for any club, so it would make sense that either the Jets or Cardinals could want to take a flier on Simpson. 

Why the Rams will make this Ty Simpson decision

This past winter, it was hinted that the Los Angeles Rams could view Simpson as an eventual replacement for veteran Matthew Stafford. Schefter indicated that the Rams are no longer a potential landing spot for Simpson this spring. 

"When the Rams sent the No. 29 pick to the Chiefs in a deal for cornerback Trent McDuffie," Schefter said, "it had one unintended consequence that some might not have realized: It hurt the chances that quarterback Ty Simpson would be a first-round pick. League sources say the Rams had been eyeing him, but more so with the No. 29 pick than No. 13, which they still hold. Had the Rams not traded for McDuffie and held onto No. 29, sources say that Simpson would have been square in the conversation to land in Los Angeles behind Matthew Stafford. As it is, the Rams still are scheduled to have seven picks, but after picking at No. 13, their next selection isn't until the end of Round 2 (No. 61), and many say Simpson will be off the board by then."

Also on Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned that he hasn't "run into a lot of folks who think [Simpson is] a first-round quarterback, or a long-term answer at the position for some team." That said, some believe a Pittsburgh Steelers club that may not get an answer from Aaron Rodgers before the draft gets underway could make Simpson the 21st overall pick of the player-selection process.