Latest On Alabama QB Ty Simpson; No First-Round Grade From Steelers?
Former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was not a surefire first-round pick entering last year’s draft, though he ultimately came off the board in Round 1. The Giants, who had previously selected Abdul Carter third overall, traded back into the first round to grab Dart at No. 25. A team could do something similar this year with Alabama QB Ty Simpson, but he has less momentum going into this draft than Dart had in 2025, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN hears.
[RELATED: PFR’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft]
While the Jets, Cardinals and Steelers have been connected to Simpson more than anyone else, it would be a surprise to see any of them use their initial pick on him. New York has Nos. 2 and 16, both of which are likely too high to take Simpson. The team may just wait until what could be a deeper 2027 class to draft a signal-caller, though perhaps the Jets will strongly consider Simpson if he is still available when they are on the clock again at No. 33.
There is indeed a possibility Simpson will fall out of the top 32, though the Cardinals may trade back into the round for him. They would mimic last year’s Giants in that regard. Otherwise, unless the Cardinals reach for Simpson with the third overall choice, their next opportunity to bring him in will come at 34. That happens to be where the Giants sat last year before going for Dart. Along with surrendering that pick, the Giants dealt a 2025 and ’26 third-rounder to move up nine spots.
The Cardinals’ Monti Ossenfort has only picked one QB – fifth-rounder Clayton Tune in 2023 – in three drafts as their general manager. But as PFR’s Sam Robinson noted, there may be more urgency to gamble on the position this year if Ossenfort is on the hot seat. The Cardinals have gone 15-36 with Ossenfort at the controls. If the team is a bottom feeder again next season, Ossenfort may be out of a job when the 2027 draft rolls around. Picking Simpson could be his last chance for a bold QB move in Arizona.
One of the main concerns regarding Simpson is a lack of experience. He made just 15 starts in college, which is reportedly a deterrent for the Steelers. As the reigning AFC North champions await a decision on 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers‘ future, they are down to career backup Mason Rudolph and untested 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard as their top options at the game’s most important position. It does not appear they are going to tab Simpson at No. 21 overall, though. They have not even given Simpson a first-round grade, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. In the Steelers’ opinion, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the lone member of this class with franchise QB potential, per Dulac.
Mendoza going to the Raiders at No. 1 overall is a lock, but this could end up a one-QB first round. Simpson’s odds of coming off the board in Round 1 remain iffy as the draft draws closer.
CB Chris Johnson Met With Jets, Packers, Bucs, Cowboys, Jags, Chiefs
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson has flown up draft boards throughout the pre-draft process. He is now considered a borderline first-round pick after visits and/or meetings with several teams.
Among them are the Jets, Packers, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Jaguars and Chiefs, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. They all have various needs at cornerback, save for the Buccaneers
After trading Sauce Gardner last year, the Jets now have Brandon Stephens, Nahshon Wright, and Jarvis Brownlee leading their cornerback room. 2025 third-rounder Azareye’h Thomas is expected to take on a bigger role this season, but the team still lacks high-upside talent in the long term. Thomas is also the only corner in that group that is signed through 2027.
The Packers have Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine entering the final years of their contract, creating a major need at the cornerback position. Benjamin St-Juste is signed through 2027, but none of the team’s other cornerbacks profile as starting options.
In Jacksonville, the Jaguars have Montaric Brown, Jarrian Jones, and Jourdan Lewis. Brown and Jones are both younger and could be long-term starters, but Lewis is 31 years old with two years left on his deal. The team also lacks quality depth behind their top three.
Like the Jets, the Chiefs traded away their star CB1 recently, leaving a gaping hole in their defense. Kansas City took fliers on Kaiir Elam and Kader Kohou to fill the cornerback room, but neither is a surefire starter in 2026. Kristian Fulton is also entering the final year of his contract. 2025 third-rounder Nohl Williams impressed as a rookie and should be able to lock down a starting job, but the rest of the Chiefs’ cornerback rotation remains murky.
The Bucs, by contrast, are set at cornerback with Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison penciled in on the boundary and Jacob Parrish manning the slot. Morrison, though, is an injury risk, and Tampa Bay has little proven depth behind its top young trio. That seems like a spot to make an inexpensive veteran addition rather than a high draft pick, though, seemingly making Johnson a luxury pick with other long-term needs to fill.
QB Cole Payton Met With Eagles, Jets, Cardinals
Although he spent four of his five North Dakota State seasons as a backup, some NFL teams consider left-handed quarterback Cole Payton an intriguing developmental prospect going into the draft. It was already known Payton visited the Steelers and Colts in recent weeks. He also “met extensively with” the Eagles, Jets and Cardinals, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports.
North Dakota State has produced two first-round signal-callers: Carson Wentz (second overall in 2016) and Trey Lance (third in 2021). While Wentz had his moments as a starter earlier in his career, he has settled in as a journeyman backup. Lance was a major disappointment as the 49ers’ starter, but he has joined Wentz in sticking around the league as a reserve. Unlike Wentz and Lance, Payton will not face the pressure of living up to first-round billing. Payton could still be a relatively high selection, though, as he told Greg Auman of Fox Sports last week that he expects to hear his name on Day 2. If accurate, that would give Payton a third-round floor.
“Obviously, there are some teams that have higher grades on you, some teams that have lower grades on you, so you really never know at the end of the day,” Payton said. “But that’s what we’re planning on. … This has been a blast. It’s what you dream about as a kid.”
As part of a quarterback class that features just one clear-cut first-rounder (Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza), Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Payton as the fifth-best option available. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. has him seventh at his position and 153rd among all prospects.
Payton attempted a meager 58 passes over his first four college seasons, but the Bison used the 6-foot-3, 233-pounder as a weapon in the running game. In 2023, his most productive season in that capacity, Payton amassed 615 yards on 84 carries (7.3 per tote) and found the end zone 13 times.
Quarterback Cam Miller (now with the Dolphins) left NDSU for the NFL last spring, clearing the way for Payton to finally grab the reins. He seized the opportunity during a 29-touchdown campaign in which he threw for 16 scores, ran for another 13 and led his team to a 12-1 record. Payton completed 72% of passes on 12.1 yards per attempt, tossed just four interceptions, and piled up 777 rushing yards (5.7 YPC) on 136 carries. He continued demonstrating his athleticism at the Combine, where he ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash among QBs (4.56).
While Brugler notes that NFL teams considered Payton a potential tight end convert entering last season, that is no longer the case. Someone will give the mobile, strong-armed Payton a chance as a QB, though that team will take on an inexperienced starter who did not face elite competition in college.
Of Philadelphia, Arizona and New York, the Eagles are the only team with a solution at quarterback. They drafted Wentz 10 years ago, but the writing was on the wall for him when they used a second-rounder on Jalen Hurts in 2020. Wentz was out of the organization a year later. Hurts remains locked in as the Eagles’ starter, but backups Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton are only under contract for another year apiece. If the Eagles keep McKee and Dalton next season, Payton could ease into the league as the fourth QB on their depth chart and perhaps climb into the second or third position in 2027.
The rebuilding Jets (Geno Smith) and Cardinals have veteran stopgaps (Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew), but both teams are strong candidates to add someone younger in the draft. While the two are popular picks for Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a potential first-rounder, perhaps one of them will instead come away with Payton later in the draft.
Jets Among Teams Which Could Trade Into Top 10
Much of the top-10 order of next week’s draft is unsettled. The possibility of movement near the top of the board has been increasingly discussed in recent days, and a number of teams appear willing to trade down.
The 2026 class is not held in high regard given its relative lack of ‘can’t-miss’ prospects. That factor could lead to a tepid trade-up market, but the Cowboys have been mentioned as a candidate to swing a deal in that regard. Dallas owns a pair of first-round picks, including No. 12.
Moving up the board is something to watch for in that case, but other suitors could be eyeing a top-10 pick. The Jets already have one, but the No. 2 selection may not be the only premium one at general manager Darren Mougey‘s disposal. ESPN’s Matt Miller predicts the opening round will be filled with trades, including up to two swaps in the top-10 order. In addition to the Cowboys, Miller names the Jets as a team to watch in that regard.
Most of the pre-draft chatter in New York’s case has naturally centered on what the team will do with the second overall pick. Taking a defensive prospect remains the expectation at this point, something which would leave Mougey and Co. with options at the receiver position and others with their next Day 1 selection (No. 16). Alternatively, a move toward the latter stages of the top 10 could allow the Jets to pick up multiple top-tier players depending on how the rest of board shakes out.
Coming off a 3-14 campaign, New York could stand to add at several spots. Bringing in immediate contributors would help given the questions surrounding head coach Aaron Glenn‘s job security entering his second season at the helm. The chances of that taking place in 2026 may of course increase with a trade up the board, although sacrificing capital in a draft such as this one would no doubt lead to scrutiny.
It may not be challenging for Mougey to find a trade partner over the coming days given the nature of the first-round order. As such, the Jets will join the Cowboys as a team to monitor closely early on Day 1.
Jets Expected To Draft David Bailey Second Overall; Latest On WR Possibilities
The Jets canceled a scheduled “30” visit with David Bailey, but that is hardly an indication they will pass on the Texas Tech edge defender at No. 2 overall in the draft. On the contrary, “most of the league” expects the Jets to use their first pick on Bailey, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears.
The possibility of the Jets taking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in the second slot exists, but the popular belief is they will settle on Bailey or Buckeyes LB/edge Arvell Reese. Not even two weeks ago, Reese was reportedly the favorite to end up in New York. The draft is still a week away, leaving enough time for this to swing in a different direction by next Thursday.
Will McDonald and free agent additions Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare are the Jets’ top edge options heading into the draft. They make for a decent trio, but the Jets are in need of a game-wrecking pass rusher. They may get one in the 22-year-old Bailey, whose production exploded last season. Spending his first three college seasons at Stanford, Bailey combined for 14.5 sacks over 32 games. He matched that sack total in 14 games with the Red Raiders.
After leading his conference in sacks and tackles for loss (19.5) in 2025, Bailey earned a unanimous All-America selection and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder further demonstrated his athletic prowess at the Combine, where he paced his position in the 40-yard dash (4.50) and ranked third in the broad jump, seventh in the 10-yard split and tied for 10th in the vertical jump.
Even if Bailey does not end up as their choice, the Jets are likely to take a defender with their initial pick. The Jets also have another first-rounder, No. 16, and may use that selection to bring in a potential impact player on offense. Receiver is a glaring weakness for the Jets, who need a high-end complement to the excellent Garrett Wilson. A recent report indicated the Jets are “extremely high on” Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr., but they like him much better as a potential option at No. 33 than at 16, according to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports.
New York spending a first-rounder on Cooper is not on the table, per Pauline, who reports the team has only given Round 1 grades to three receivers: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Denzel Boston (Washington). Tate should be long gone when the Jets are on the clock again at the midpoint of the first round, but coming away with either Tyson or Boston looks like a realistic outcome.
Malachi Lawrence Drawing Major Interest
APRIL 16: The Patriots used a “30” visit on Lawrence, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald relays. In addition to the Pats and the previously reported Colts, 49ers, Seahawks and Texans, Lawrence met with the Cardinals, Chiefs, Falcons, Saints, Chargers, Ravens, Eagles, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Commanders, Raiders, Titans and Jets, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.
APRIL 9: As a potential first- or second-round pick, UCF edge defender Malachi Lawrence is generating significant interest in the lead-up to the NFL draft. Sixteen teams have set up visits with Lawrence, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The Colts, 49ers and Seahawks will all meet with him this week.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence’s college career took off as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. He registered 10.5 tackles for loss and a personal-best 7.5 sacks in 13 games that year. Lawrence’s production dropped a bit during an 11-game 2024 (six TFL, five sacks), but he earned a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season. Over 12 games, Lawrence picked up 11 TFL and seven sacks.
Lawrence further boosted his stock with an off-the-charts performance at the Combine, where he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He finished second among edge defenders at the Combine in 40 time, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump (via PFF College). Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 36) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 46) consider Lawrence a top-50 prospect.
The Colts were a passable 15th in sacks last season, but they ranked an alarming 30th in pass rush win rate. The team made a run at Trey Hendrickson early in free agency, but the Ravens won that sweepstakes. The Colts have settled for modest additions (Arden Key and Micheal Clemons) to replace the departed Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam. They continue to lack needle-moving pass rushers to complement Laiatu Latu. Indianapolis is without a first-round pick, but Lawrence could be on the board when it selects 47th overall in the second round.
The 49ers will pick 27th and 58th in the first two rounds. They totaled the fewest sacks in the league last season, though losing Nick Bosa to a Week 3 ACL tear heavily contributed to their struggles. They should get Bosa and Mykel Williams, who tore his ACL in November, back next season. The rest of their edge rushers – Sam Okuayinonu, Keion White, William Bradley-King, Andrew Farmer and the just-signed Cameron Sample – combined for just five sacks last year. With that in mind, bolstering the pass rush via the draft should be a high priority for the 49ers.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks aren’t exactly teeming with weaknesses, but taking an edge defender early may be on their to-do list. Owners of just four picks, including Nos. 32 and 64 in the first two rounds, the Seahawks lost Boye Mafe in free agency. They have not brought in a replacement for Maye, and the clock is ticking on Demarcus Lawrence‘s career. The soon-to-be 34-year-old pondered retirement after the season, which could add to the Seahawks’ urgency to make a notable investment along the edge.
Chiefs, Jets, Raiders, Seahawks, Texans Meet With CB Colton Hood
Today represents the final opportunity for teams to conduct “30” visits with players, and several updates on this front have emerged. A couple involve Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.
Expected to go off the board in Round 1, Hood’s visit itinerary became clear this afternoon. The Chiefs brought in Hood for a meeting this week, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Hood had met with the Cowboys previously, and Pelissero adds the Jets, Raiders, Seahawks and Texans conducted “30” visits with the Tennessee corner.
Hood transferred to Tennessee last year but did not team with Jermod McCoy in what would have been a standout CB duo, with McCoy missing all of the 2025 season due to an ACL tear. The 6-foot cover man played at three schools in three years, transferring from Auburn to Colorado to Tennessee. Hood checks in 25th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board — behind Mansoor Delane (No. 8) and McCoy (No. 15) among corners.
The 2025 SEC second-teamer forwent his final two seasons of eligibility to declare for the draft, and he should hear his name called on Day 1 (Hood certainly expects this, as he is attending the draft). The Chiefs hold the Nos. 9, 29 and 40 overall picks and should be expected to take a corner at one of those spots. Kansas City has developed a tried-and-true method of developing quality corners but not paying them, with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson the latest one-contract cogs at this position. The team needs help after losing its top two options last month.
Trading Sauce Gardner last year, the Jets have a need here too. They signed Nahshon Wright to a low-cost deal following a 2025 breakthrough but have needs here ahead of a draft that sees them holding three picks in the top 33. The Raiders used a third-round pick on Darien Porter last year and re-signed Eric Stokes last month, but the rebuilding team could use more aid here as well. Las Vegas, however, has been tied to the wide receiver and right tackle positions with its No. 36 overall pick. The Texans are set at corner, identifying Kamari Lassiter as a solid No. 2 option alongside Derek Stingley Jr., but the Seahawks lost Riq Woolen in free agency. Seattle, however, rosters All-Pro Devon Witherspoon and re-signed Josh Jobe last month.
‘All Signs’ Point To Jets Waiting Until 2027 Draft On QB
Our latest Trade Rumors Front Office piece covered teams’ patterns with regard to taking quarterbacks high in consecutive drafts. For the most part, there is next to no history of this happening in the modern era. The few examples that do exist of teams taking either a first- or second-round QB one year and then doing so again in the following draft involved the No. 1 overall pick falling to a team.
That raises the stakes for teams on Ty Simpson, a polarizing prospect whose draft landing spot has been perhaps the most intriguing component of this year’s draft (since Fernando Mendoza is all but certain to be chosen first overall). If there were a team positioned to both draft Simpson and then consider doubling up at QB early in the 2027 draft, it would be the Jets. The team holds four first- and second-round picks this year and is set to carry three firsts in 2027, creating a few windows for a quarterback investment.
[RELATED: Analyzing Simpson’s Prospect Profile]
While the Jets have been linked to Simpson during this year’s pre-draft process — to the point a recent report indicated the team was likely to exit Round 2 with a passer — they appear set to take their chances with what is expected to be a much richer QB crop in 2027. As it stands, “all signs” point to Gang Green making next year its window to make its draft move at QB, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah said Tuesday (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini).
It is worth noting future draft classes have a tendency to not deliver promised goods. The 2026 class serves as a reminder. Our Ely Allen noted how long the wait could be before this year’s QB3 is chosen; at this time last year, the ’26 draft was expected to be much more fruitful at the position than it ended up being. One of the reasons the ’26 class underwhelmed: Oregon QB Dante Moore‘s decision to return to school. The Jets may well have loomed as a landing spot for Moore at No. 2 overall. Now, they will have a chance to evaluate more film on the Big Ten passer (among others) this coming fall.
A report earlier this month indicated the Jets were likely to pass on Simpson. The Jets indeed passing on the one-year Alabama starter at No. 16 (and perhaps again at No. 33) would invite risk, and after changing both offensive and defensive coordinators in his second year, Aaron Glenn is far from a lock to be back in 2027. No starter-level passer being chosen in this draft will run the risk of Glenn being fired before the franchise makes a true investment in the position.
Waiting a year also places plenty of pressure on Geno Smith, who joins a team that did not have a 400-yard receiver (thanks largely to Garrett Wilson‘s seven-game season) in 2025. Glenn has spoken highly of Smith, but the second-stint Jet will have plenty to say about whether Glenn makes it to the ’27 draft as head coach.
The organization gave its past two GMs — Joe Douglas, Mike Maccagnan — five drafts apiece. This points to Darren Mougey being given more time, and this offseason’s run of HC firings and GM retentions showed more staying power among the executive ranks. With Moore, Arch Manning and other intriguing arms expected to be part of the 2027 draft, Mougey may be more inclined to wait. The Jets do not carry high expectations into this season, which opens the door to their own pick checking in high in 2027. New York also owns Dallas and Indianapolis’ 2027 firsts, providing possible trade ammo.
Manning is not a lock to enter the 2027 draft. Neither of his high-profile uncles — Peyton and Eli — came out after junior seasons. Peyton famously passed on being the Jets’ No. 1 pick in 1997 to return to Tennessee, landing with the Colts a year later. Considering the patient approach the Manning family has taken with Arch, it would certainly not shock to see him stay at Texas for two more seasons. That would weaken the 2027 QB class, but the Jets are well positioned to be patient here due to the capital the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades provided.
We could soon see a redux of the Jets’ late-2010s strategy, when they positioned Josh McCown as a bridge in 2017 — passing on the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson to take Jamal Adams — before trading up for Sam Darnold in 2018. If Simpson is not Big Apple-bound next week, a waiting game looks likely to commence once again.
Jets Remain High On WR Omar Cooper Jr.
APRIL 13: To little surprise, Reid reports Cooper will take part in a top-30 visit with the Jets today. Depending on the outcome, New York could become even more likely to take him at the No. 16 spot.
APRIL 12: Earlier this month, the Jets were mentioned as one of the teams which holds Omar Cooper Jr. in high regard. New York owns the 33rd overall pick in the upcoming draft but also a pair of first-rounders.
No. 2 is widely expected to result in the Jets adding on defense, although which prospect will hear his name called at that slot remains to be seen. New York is also slated to pick 16th overall. That could present general manager Darren Mougey with the opportunity to add at the receiver position. Cooper was previously named as a potential target at No. 33, but the Indiana product may not still be available by that point.
Cooper is a prospect the Jets are “extremely high on,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid writes. As a result, taking him 16th overall will be something Mougey, head coach Aaron Glenn and Co. consider. Cooper could immediately carve out a key role in the slot while adding to a WR depth chart topped by Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. Making a notable move at that position has long been seen as a priority for the Jets, although a best player available approach will be the team’s draft goal, as Glenn recently noted.
“If you love the player, go get the player,” the second-year HC said (via Reid’s colleague Rich Cimini). “I truly believe in that. If you love the player, go get him, regardless of what everybody thinks, regardless of positional value.”
Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon are widely viewed as the top receiver prospects in this year’s class, with Jordyn Tyson a strong candidate to be selected in the first round as well. Cooper’s stock has risen during the pre-draft process, and he is among the wideouts in contention to be drafted during the middle or latter stages of Day 1. A number of visits have taken place with interested teams in his case.
The Jets will be a team to watch closely with respect to Cooper. How the board shakes out in the build-up to their second selection will of course go a long way in determining which positions wind up being targeted in general and whether Cooper in particular could end up in New York.
WR Denzel Boston Visits Ravens, Jets
The list of teams with interest in Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston continues to grow. Boston is visiting the Ravens and Jets on Saturday, per reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and veteran insider Jordan Schultz.
As PFR’s archives show, Boston has set up meetings with at least eight teams in the lead-up to the draft. The 6-foot-4, 212-pounder has long been considered a potential first-rounder. Some teams are bullish enough on Boston to rank him the second- or third-best receiver in a class that also includes the likes of Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, KC Concepcion, Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper Jr.
Boston began his four-year run at Washington on a squad loaded with quality receivers. Future NFLers Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’lynn Polk were among the Huskies’ go-to wideouts from 2022-23, which limited Boston to seven catches in his first two years. Odunze, McMillan and Polk left for the pros in 2024, setting the stage for a Boston breakout. Over his last two years in school, Boston averaged 63 catches, 858 yards and 10 touchdowns per season. Known as a sure-handed red zone weapon, Boston registered a paltry 3.1% drop rate at Washington.
The Ravens, who own the 14th pick in the first round, have a star No. 1 receiver in Zay Flowers. But none of their other returning wideouts even reached 20 catches or 225 yards in 2025. While Rashod Bateman was a starter in Baltimore for most of the past three seasons, he has come up in trade rumors after a down year. Even if Bateman sticks around, there is room for the Ravens to make a significant addition at receiver in the draft.
Like the Ravens, the Jets have a bona fide top receiver (Garrett Wilson) and not much else. While Adonai Mitchell showed flashes after coming over in the Sauce Gardner trade with the Colts in November, the 2024 second-rounder remains unproven. The Jets have six other receivers under contract, but the group of Isaiah Williams, Arian Smith, Quentin Skinner, Jamaal Pritchett, Mac Dalena and Irvin Charles combined for a mere 34 catches last season.
There is a clear need at receiver in New York, though the team will not go in that direction with its first pick (No. 2 overall). Expectations are the Jets will use their top choice on a blue-chip defender such as David Bailey, Arvell Reese or Sonny Styles, but they could turn their attention to receiver at 16th or 33rd overall.