Quarterbacks always steal the spotlight during NFL draft season.
With top-rated quarterback prospect Fernando Mendoza’s landing spot a seemingly forgone conclusion – No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders – attention has turned to one of the other top signal-callers in the 2026 NFL Draft class. Where will Alabama’s Ty Simpson end up?
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Recent reporting from NFL insider Ian Rapoport may give a bit of insight to the answer.
On March 31, Rapoport reported that Simpson had top 30 visits scheduled with three teams in the weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft in addition to a private workout with a fourth team. All four teams have uncertain futures behind center.
Here are the teams Simpson has reportedly visited so far, as well as how he would fit with each team:
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Current rostered quarterbacks: Geno Smith, Brady Cook, Bailey Zappe
According to multiple reports, Simpson partook in a private workout with the Jets in late March.
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This offseason, New York has already undergone an overhaul of its quarterback room. Gang Green traded 2025 starter Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, opted not to re-sign backup Tyrod Taylor in free agency and traded for Las Vegas Raiders starter Geno Smith.
Smith agreed to a contract restructure after the trade that will have him hit free agency after the 2026 season, so he is not a long-term answer for New York. Cook, the lone holdover from last year, struggled in his limited opportunities as a starter as an undrafted free agent rookie in 2025. Zappe signed a reserve/future contract after the 2025 season and adds a bit of extra depth.
With two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets have the capital to take a swing on Simpson as their potential quarterback of the future. Smith could be the bridge quarterback that gives way to the Alabama gunslinger once Simpson is prepared.
In addition to their two firsts this year, the Jets also have three first-round picks in 2027. A strong rookie campaign from Simpson could allow New York to shift its focus in 2027 to building up the roster around him.
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Currently rostered quarterbacks: Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, Kedon Slovis
The Cardinals were one of the three teams to set a top 30 meeting with Simpson, according to Rapoport. And similar to the Jets, the Cardinals do not have a clear future at quarterback.
Like New York, Arizona parted ways with its 2025 starter, Kyler Murray, this offseason. The Cardinals released Murray at the start of the new league year, and he signed with the Vikings shortly thereafter. They retained Brissett, who began the 2025 season as a backup quarterback, as their presumptive starter entering 2026. Minshew was a free agency signing to give Arizona a new backup behind Brissett, and Slovis, a Cardinals practice squad member in 2025, is additional depth.
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None are long-term answers, with Brissett and Minshew due to hit free agency after this coming season. Simpson presents a possible answer to the Cardinals’ franchise quarterback question after eating over $35 million to move on from Murray this offseason.
Arizona currently owns the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which it likely won’t use on Simpson. But the NFC West team also has the No. 34 overall pick at the top of the second round. The Cardinals are in a good position to either trade back up into the first round to draft Simpson or wait until early on Day 2 to select the Alabama signal-caller if he’s still available.
Currently rostered quarterbacks: Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Deshaun Watson
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The Browns made two more attempts to get off of the quarterback carousel in 2025 by drafting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Those attempts came three years after a major swing (and, to this point, a miss) on trading for Deshaun Watson and signing him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal. None of the three attempts at getting off of the carousel have done a convincing job so far.
Watson’s Browns tenure has been marred by injuries and poor play when he is healthy. Gabriel struggled in his first shot at Cleveland’s starting job last year, and a Week 11 injury paved the way for Sanders to get his shot. Then Sanders had an up-and-down rookie campaign that still leaves his future as the Browns’ starter murky.
Could the Browns take yet another swing at a highly touted quarterback prospect in the draft? Their decision to host Simpson on one of their limited top 30 visits suggests there’s at least some interest there.
Like the Jets, Cleveland has two first-round picks: one is in the top five, and the other is closer to the bottom of the opening round. That puts them in prime position to add at least one top prospect at a premium position (read: wide receiver or offensive tackle) at the top of the draft, with the flexibility and improved roster infrastructure to take a swing on Simpson later on.
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BROWNS QUARTERBACKS: HC Todd Monken wants early clarity on starting QB
Currently rostered quarterbacks: Malik Willis, Quinn Ewers, Cam Miller
The Dolphins’ new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, hit a massive reset button on the Dolphins’ roster. Gone are quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and edge rusher Bradley Chubb. The new-look Dolphins will be built around a new core and foundation.
Malik Willis, the top free agent quarterback this offseason, appears to be the linchpin of this new foundation. The former Packers’ backup quarterback sticks with Sullivan and new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley, who also moved to Miami from Green Bay, to begin the 2026 season and Dolphins’ rebuild. Second-year passer Quinn Ewers is still around after a decent showing in three starts as a rookie, and Cam Miller is an extra depth piece that Miami brought over from the Raiders’ practice squad late last year.
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Of the four teams to have reportedly met with Simpson, Miami is the least clear fit on the surface. Willis just signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract to join the Dolphins with $45 million guaranteed. That’s starter money with signs pointing to a longer future in Miami.
If the Dolphins are considering drafting Simpson, perhaps they’re looking to hedge their bets on Willis. The former Packer struggled in the first two years of his career with the Tennessee Titans, and he has never had a full season of starts yet.
Miami has an extra first-round pick to work with after trading Waddle to Denver. Perhaps Sullivan likes what he sees in Simpson and gives himself future flexibility by making the Alabama gunslinger a first-round pick – and therefore eligible for a fifth-year option down the road.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ty Simpson top 30 visits: Which teams has Alabama QB met with?
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