After a week of competitive workouts, impressive (and questionable) interviews, and fiery rumors, the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has come to a close.
Organizations like the New York Jets now travel back home with a bevy of information on the upcoming 2026 NFL draft class. Some of it, particularly surrounding the edge rushers and receiver class, is good.
Others remain big question marks.
With the combine over, it’s time to break down everything we heard over the last week. Salacious rumors, bigger questions, and draft plans for each team in the league ran rampant in the Hoosier City.
2027 impact on QB shuffle
The 2027 draft class of quarterbacks is expected to be one of the strongest we have seen in some time. Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers are just some of the names that could be first-round talents.
As good as the draft class is set to be, many NFL organizations will be looking to address the need through trades or free agents.
One key talking point heard in Indianapolis is that there could be multiple Pro Bowl-caliber quarterbacks dangled in trade conversations or outright released by their teams.
Concerns about maturity, a lack of love for football, and a sense of entitlement are all reasons for change.
It doesn’t matter how good some of these quarterbacks are; if they cannot show consistent improvement or a willingness to get better, teams will eventually look to move on.
All of that is to say this: 2027 seems to be the driving factor behind the current NFL quarterback shuffle.
A.J. Brown sweepstakes
It’s the topic for which so many people eagerly provided opinions. Many people around the NFL have speculated that Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown will be traded this offseason.
They’ve been talking about it since 2023.
Yet, despite all the league-wide push for something to happen, general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles haven’t budged. They won’t be giving away Brown for anything less than the price they have set for him.
What seems to be happening now is that NFL executives are simply telling reporters they expect Brown to be traded. Reporters are making those expectations public, hoping Brown will eventually get frustrated and demand a trade, forcing Philadelphia’s hand.
That isn’t happening, though. Unless Philly gets a first-round pick (and more as reported), they won’t be giving him to other teams.
Jets’ indecision
Kyler Murray, Tanner McKee, Malik Willis, Kirk Cousins, and Jacoby Brissett are the names of quarterbacks to whom the Jets have been tied throughout talks in Indianapolis.
Some believe the team will go the free agent route, while others believe a trade for a backup bridge performer is coming.
All of this shows one thing: The Jets remain unquestionably undecided at the quarterback position — despite the 2026 quarterback class settling post-combine festivities.
Last season, rumors were clear that the organization would be going after Justin Fields to be their starter in 2025. That’s precisely what happened, and, of course, it didn’t work out, and New York has since been quieter about its thoughts on the quarterback market.
They don’t need to make a decision on a signal-caller yet, either.
Ty Simpson’s outlook
After a very strong combine workout and impressive interview session, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a lock to go in the first round of April’s draft.
The only question features his NFL destination.
Speculation around Indy circled the Sean McVay-led Los Angeles Rams as a potential landing spot as the organization begins preparations for a Matthew Stafford-less world. Others believe the Jets will be in play with the 16th overall selection.
Consensus is that Simpson won’t get past the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st overall pick, though.
Simpson has only 15 collegiate starts, but played well in most of them. His struggles late in the year were attributed more to poor offensive line play and receiver drops.
His work in Indianapolis, though, shows he’s going to be a high pick regardless of concerns about his experience.
Draft breakdown
Following the trade of Jermaine Johnson, coupled with $90 million in cap space at their disposal, the Jets are seen as a lock to take one of the top two edge rushers in the draft — Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey.
What the team does at 16 will be heavily determined by what happens in free agency.
If the organization brings in a quarterback like Kyler Murray, the Jets will seemingly move past the quarterback decision with their second pick and take the best player available (a wide receiver). If the Jets acquire a veteran like McKee, they would be more inclined to take a quarterback earlier than expected.
There’s a very good chance, though, that New York ends up with an edge rusher with the second overall pick, a receiver at 16, a safety with their first pick in the second round, and the best available quarterback at 44.
Suffice it to say, it will be an intriguing draft season for the New York Jets.
