Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has seemed to pick up so much buzz in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft that most mock drafts now have him going in the first round. “First Things First’s” Nick Wright believes that’ll be the case as well.
However, does Wright agree with the idea that Simpson should be a first-round pick? In his first mock draft, Wright projects that the team that will select Simpson will massively overdraft him. But there’s also a pick in the top 10 that Wright projects will happen that he said would be a move he couldn’t support.
Let’s take a closer look at Wright’s first mock draft.
Nick Wright’s Mock Draft 1.0: Jeremiyah Love to Titans, Chiefs take Rueben Bain at No 9, Ty Simpson to Jets
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All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Wright’s thoughts: “No shocker at all. We all know where [Mendoza] goes.”
Odds to be chosen No. 1: -20000
Fernando Mendoza in Joel Klatt’s prime 50 gamers 🏈
Wright’s ideas: “You may see numerous Ohio State children within the prime 10. [Reese] is perhaps the perfect defensive participant on this draft. I really feel Aaron Glenn appears at him and says, ‘Is there slightly Micah Parsons there?’”
Odds to be No. 2 general decide: -270
Wright’s ideas: “You guys like spider graphs and athleticism? His is 99 percentile in every single place. Possibly the sickest athlete in the draft.”
Odds to be No. 3 general decide: +700
Sonny Types and Omar Cooper in Joel Klatt’s NFL Draft risers 😤
Wright’s ideas: “The decide that everybody now appears to assume is going on. … Is it good to draft a working again that top earlier than your offensive line has been absolutely constructed? Possibly ask the Raiders that.”
Odds to be No. 4 general decide: +160
Wright’s ideas: “Malik Nabers is coming off the [ACL] damage. Even with Nabers, [the Giants] haven’t got a surefire No. 2 [wide receiver].”
Odds to be No. 5 general decide: +1200
Carnell Tate in Joel Klatt’s prime 50 gamers 🏈
Wright’s ideas: “A workforce that, on offense, wants. a little bit of every thing. Possibly they go get the No. 1 sort out within the draft?”
Odds to be No. 6 general decide: +500
Wright’s ideas: “He was, based on lots of people, the perfect participant in faculty soccer going into the 12 months. The one motive he could be obtainable at No. 7, and could be obtainable outdoors of the highest 10, is the positional [value].”
Odds to be No. 7 general decide: +750
Wright’s ideas: “I believe the perfect pure move rusher within the draft is David Bailey. I do not know if he is a three-down participant or if he’ll be nice in opposition to the run, however he is a monster in opposition to the move.”
Odds to be No. 8 general decide: +550
Wright’s ideas: “If it had been to fall like this, I believe the Chiefs would run to the rostrum to draft Rueben Bain. They haven’t had a blue-chip edge rusher, you would argue, in [Patrick] Mahomes’ entire profession.”
Odds that Chiefs use first decide on edge rusher or defensive lineman: +275
Wright’s ideas: “A transfer that I might not assist, which is why I believe the Bengals may do it. Many of the issues they do, I do not assist. You realize what could be enjoyable? Extra offense. The no. 1 tight finish and a man who has, in a great way, gotten some Kyle Pitts comps.”
Odds that Sadiq is drafted by the Bengals: +2500
Wright’s ideas: “The Dolphins are in a full-on teardown. Nevertheless, you probably did signal Malik Willis. You traded away his weapons. You a minimum of need to give him slightly little bit of safety.”
Odds that Fano is a top-10 decide: +160
Wright’s ideas: “Cowboys, I believe, would run to the board at hand this decide in. The highest nook, whom I believe lots of people incorrectly imagine the Chiefs will take at No. 9. Delane is everybody’s prime nook on this draft. The Cowboys want assist in each facet within the secondary.”
Odds that Delane is the primary cornerback drafted: -320
Wright’s ideas: “I like this match loads, not simply because he would be capable to keep residence. … Lemon can play the slot or the skin [and] Davante Adams is, clearly, getting older and abruptly, Puka Nacua’s availability is a query mark. They’re an final win-now workforce which may have quick and longterm questions at huge receiver.”
Odds that Rams use first decide on a large receiver: +120
Wright’s ideas: “I received the Ravens going with the perfect obtainable inside offensive lineman. He hasn’t performed a lot middle in any respect, I believe 20 snaps whole, however he is performed each guard spots. They need assistance on the inside of the offensive line.”
Odds that Ravens use first decide on an offensive lineman: +140
Wright’s ideas: “The Bucs have been attempting to handle edge rusher within the draft for years. They’ve hit in some capability, however no actual stars.”
Odds that Buccaneers use first decide on an edge rusher or a defensive lineman: +125
Wright’s ideas: “What I believe could be a large overdraft, however the Jets are type of recognized to massively overdraft [players]. The Jets are one of many prime picks for, ‘Workforce Most Possible To Have Their Proprietor Fully Reshuffle Their Board The Day Earlier than The Draft.’”
Odds that Simpson is drafted by the Jets: +145
Wright’s ideas: “The Lions nonetheless want an edge rusher reverse of Aidan Hutchinson.”
Odds that Lions use first decide on an edge rusher or defensive lineman: +200
Wright’s ideas: “I really feel like Jordan Addison’s star has dimmed during the last couple of years for lack of on-field manufacturing and off-field [stuff]. It feels just like the protection has individuals in every single place already.”
Odds that Vikings use first decide on a large receiver: +1800
Wright’s ideas: “Get Bryce Young some offensive line assist.”
Odds that Panthers use first decide on an offensive lineman: +400
Wright’s ideas: “The Cowboys, bear in mind, they thought Logan Wilson was going to rework the protection. That did not work out.”
Odds that Allen is a first-round decide: +110
Wright’s ideas: “Cameron Hayward’s the oldest every-down defensive participant within the league and T.J. Watt’s getting older. So I believe Kayden McDonald is to attempt to add proper now depth after which finally inheritor obvious is sensible there.”
Odds that Steelers use first decide on an edge rusher or a defensive lineman: +600
Wright’s ideas: “Yeah, they received the tackles again, however the inside of that offensive line, nobody might win with that. These excuses, I already see them being brewed up in Danny’s [Parkins] workshop. So that they take one of many prime inside offensive linemen.”
Odds that Chargers use first decide on an offensive lineman: +155
Wright’s ideas: “The Eagles, I imagine, anticipating an AJ Brown commerce, find yourself drafting Omar Cooper.”
Odds that Eagles use first decide on a large receiver: +400
Wright’s ideas: “McCoy in all probability would have been a prime 12 decide, however he completely blew out his knee previous to final 12 months. Did not play final 12 months. Now, he won’t be a first-round decide. These are the sorts of guys, for those who’re Cleveland together with your second first spherical decide, I believe you must have a look at just like the tremendous excessive upside, even when he takes a minute to get acclimated.”
Over/beneath on variety of cornerbacks drafted in first spherical: 4.5
Wright’s ideas: “He is the sort out from Alabama that we noticed, catching the passes and rumbling and working down like essentially the most athletic 380-pounder I’ve ever seen in my life. I really feel just like the Bears abruptly have to handle left sort out due to that, and so we’ve him going there.”
Odds that Bears use first decide on an offensive lineman: +700
Wright’s ideas: “The Payments have been attempting to get nook appropriate within the draft for a few years. I do know they only drafted Maxwell Hairston. They take one other shot at it with Terrell out of Clemson.”
Odds that Bills use first decide on a cornerback: +275
Wright’s ideas: “I believe the Niners want to begin taking a look at a post-Trent Williams world, particularly at his age.”
Odds that 49ers use first decide on an offensive lineman: +115
28. Houston Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Wright’s ideas: “The Texans all the time want to handle the offensive line.”
Odds that Texans use first decide on an offensive lineman: -140
Wright’s ideas: “The Chiefs go together with secondary assist after dropping Jaylen Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Bryan Cook this offseason with Thieneman out of Oregon.”
Odds that Thieneman is a first-round decide: -4000
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Wright’s ideas: “Dolphins additionally take a security, McNeil-Warren, out of Toledo.”
Odds that McNeil-Warren is a first-round decide: -260
Wright’s ideas: “Then the Patriots misplaced Stefon Diggs, having not essentially traded for A.J. Brown. They take Denzel Boston out of Washington.”
Odds that Patriots use first decide on a large receiver: +370
Wright’s ideas: “The Seahawks, after dropping a couple of of the defenders in free company, add to their defensive depth with Cassius Howell, the sting rusher out of Texas A&M.”
Odds that Seahawks use first decide on an edge rusher: +400
