The Jets own four picks inside the top 44 — Nos. 2, 16, 33 and 44 — giving them two first-round slots and two second-round slots to shape their quarterback and defensive plans. If Simpson isn’t selected at No. 16, they may risk losing him to another team, and a fall to the early second round could prompt a reconsideration.
There has been mock-draft chatter about a team moving back into the first round to take Simpson, a scenario that would complicate the Jets’ plans at 16 and potentially trigger a cascade of moves. Analysts have floated possibilities involving teams that could backfill into the first for a late-round swing at Simpson.
With no Jets pick again until No. 103 in the fourth round, the board creates a sizable gap that may force a late decision on quarterbacks or other positions. A mid-round sleeper such as Carson Beck has been discussed as a potential option, given his size and pro-style traits but tempered by turnover concerns and the likelihood he may not last to Day 2.
Beck’s prospects at Nos. 33 or 44 would represent a notable deviation from consensus boards, where he sits lower than that range. The Jets would face a difficult evaluation if they pursued him that early, underscoring how much the draft landscape could shift between now and draft night.
Ultimately, New York’s strategy will hinge on Simpson’s stock and how the board moves in the coming weeks, balancing the value of a potential quarterback option with the team’s need to strengthen its defense among four top-44 picks and the later fourth-round opportunity.
