New Ty Simpson Rumors on Jaxson Dart Comparison amid Cardinals & Jets Buzz, Latest Mock Drafts

Teams around the NFL aren't comparing Alabama's Ty Simpson favorably to another quarterback who went unexpectedly high in the 2025 NFL draft.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday people in the league "believe [Jaxson] Dart had more momentum last year than Simpson does right now."

Fowler reported the Arizona Cardinals are cited "most often" with Simpson."

"It's hard to find a natural home otherwise," he said. "There could be some threats like the New York Jets. Probably not at two or 16, where they pick in the first round, but if Simpson were to fall late to the first, early second, do the Jets try to get involved?"

Simpson is the No. 28 player on the Bleacher Report 2026 big board, and he went 34th in the most recent B/R mock draft.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. projected the former Crimson Tide star to go 30th to the Cardinals, also forecasting Arizona to trade back into the first round. Colleague Matt Miller had him landing with the Jets at No. 33, while NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah also had him falling out of the first round.

This time last year, Dart wasn't a Day 1 lock, yet that didn't stop the New York Giants from trading up and taking him 25th overall. In the 2024 draft, the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos acted aggressively when they selected Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix, respectively.

Having a quarterback on a rookie contract is a massive advantage from the perspective of building a roster, and grabbing one in the first round means having an extra year of team control.

Still, Simpson's pre-draft rankings speak for themselves.

The 23-year-old was pretty good rather than great in his only season as Alabama's full-time starter. He threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 145.2 passer rating.

It's also difficult to pinpoint a standout attribute with Simpson.

Dart's mobility made him a more enticing prospect. Simpson doesn't possess that dimension to his game, and he's not the kind of quarterback who blows you away with his arm talent.

In general, the Cardinals and Jets could both use another quarterback.

Arizona is set to start Jacoby Brissett under center, and he's reportedly angling for a new contract that reflects his role. Geno Smith is a stopgap option for New York, which doesn't have a long-term plan at the position.

Gambling on the wrong QB early in the draft can backfire in a big way, though. Beyond the lost value from that pick, a franchise can wind up spending multiple seasons committed to a quarterback who simply isn't going to work.

That's something the Cardinals and Jets are undoubtedly considering as part of their evaluations on Simpson.