Jets predicted to pass on Ty Simpson with 16th pick for different offensive player

The New York Jets are looking to make some big splashes during the 2026 NFL Draft with four picks inside the top 44 picks.

At No. 2 overall, the Jets will have their pick of every player in the class not named Fernando Mendoza. But their other first-round pick at No. 16 could be a big pivot point. This might be the Ty Simpson spot.

But, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic is predicting that the Jets will instead of taking Simpson will pick one of five possible receiver options.

Jets predicted to pass on Ty Simpson at 16 for WR/TE help

"My prediction for No. 16 remains pass-catcher - if one of Makai Lemon or Carnell Tate falls there, ideally, but if not: Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, Indiana's Omar Cooper or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq make sense."

This prediction comes amid Rosenblatt making sense of the Jets' interest in Simpson with the 16th pick. He pointed out one clear reason why the Alabama QB isn't an option: inexperience.

Simpson has made just 15 starts at quarterback in college. That's not a recipe for success in the NFL, as many QB's who started a similar amount of games didn't succeed in the NFL.

More: Jets predicted to trade up for Ty Simpson like Giants did for Jaxon Dart

Instead, Rosenblatt is predicting that one of the top receiver options will be the pick with the 16th selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, courtesy of the Indianapolis Colts from the Sauce Gardner trade.

If one of Ohio State's Carnell Tate or USC's Makai Lemon made it to this pick, it'd be a "sprint-to-the-podium" type of selection for the Jets.

But, Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr., and, somewhat surprisingly, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq were named as other options for the Jets with the 16th pick.

Mason Taylor has received some belief in the organization, so taking Sadiq would be a bit of a surprise. But he's an uber-athletic tight end who could give the Jets two great tight ends. And who's to say that the Jets and Frank Reich don't start using two-tight-end sets?

Regardless of whichever receiver the Jets end up with, Rosenblatt predicts that some help for the offense will come with the 16th pick, whether it's a wide receiver or tight end.

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