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] is going.”
Odds to be selected No. 1: -20000
Fernando Mendoza in Joel Klatt’s top 50 players 🏈
Wright’s thoughts: “You’ll see a lot of Ohio State kids in the top 10. [Reese] is maybe the best defensive player in this draft. I feel Aaron Glenn looks at him and says, ‘Is there a little Micah Parsons there?’”
Odds to be No. 2 overall pick: -270
Wright’s thoughts: “You guys like spider graphs and athleticism? His is 99 percentile everywhere. Maybe the sickest athlete in the draft.”
Odds to be No. 3 overall pick: +700
Sonny Styles and Omar Cooper in Joel Klatt’s NFL Draft risers 😤
Wright’s thoughts: “The pick that everyone now seems to think is happening. … Is it smart to draft a running back that high before your offensive line has been fully built? Maybe ask the Raiders that.”
Odds to be No. 4 overall pick: +160
Wright’s thoughts: “Malik Nabers is coming off the [ACL] injury. Even with Nabers, [the Giants] don’t have a surefire No. 2 [wide receiver].”
Odds to be No. 5 overall pick: +1200
Carnell Tate in Joel Klatt’s top 50 players 🏈
Wright’s thoughts: “A team that, on offense, needs. a bit of everything. Maybe they go get the No. 1 tackle in the draft?”
Odds to be No. 6 overall pick: +500
Wright’s thoughts: “He was, according to a lot of people, the best player in college football going into the year. The only reason he would be available at No. 7, and might be available outside of the top 10, is the positional [value].”
Odds to be No. 7 overall pick: +750
Wright’s thoughts: “I think the best pure pass rusher in the draft is David Bailey. I don’t know if he’s a three-down player or if he’ll be great against the run, but he’s a monster against the pass.”
Odds to be No. 8 overall pick: +550
Wright’s thoughts: “If it were to fall like this, I think the Chiefs would run to the podium to draft Rueben Bain. They have not had a blue-chip edge rusher, you could argue, in [Patrick] Mahomes’ whole career.”
Odds that Chiefs use first pick on edge rusher or defensive lineman: +275
Wright’s thoughts: “A move that I would not support, which is why I think the Bengals might do it. Most of the things they do, I don’t support. You know what would be fun? More offense. The no. 1 tight end and a guy who has, in a good way, gotten some Kyle Pitts comps.”
Odds that Sadiq is drafted by the Bengals: +2500
Wright’s thoughts: “The Dolphins are in a full-on teardown. However, you did sign Malik Willis. You traded away his weapons. You at least want to give him a little bit of protection.”
Odds that Fano is a top-10 pick: +160
Wright’s thoughts: “Cowboys, I think, would run to the board to hand this pick in. The top corner, whom I think a lot of people incorrectly believe the Chiefs will take at No. 9. Delane is everyone’s top corner in this draft. The Cowboys need help in every aspect in the secondary.”
Odds that Delane is the first cornerback drafted: -320
Wright’s thoughts: “I like this fit a lot, not just because he would be able to stay home. … Lemon can play the slot or the outside [and] Davante Adams is, obviously, getting older and all of a sudden, Puka Nacua’s availability is a question mark. They’re an ultimate win-now team that might have short and longterm questions at wide receiver.”
Odds that Rams use first pick on a wide receiver: +120
Wright’s thoughts: “I got the Ravens going with the best available interior offensive lineman. He hasn’t played much center at all, I think 20 snaps total, but he’s played both guard spots. They need help on the interior of the offensive line.”
Odds that Ravens use first pick on an offensive lineman: +140
Wright’s thoughts: “The Bucs have been trying to address edge rusher in the draft for years. They have hit in some capacity, but no real stars.”
Odds that Buccaneers use first pick on an edge rusher or a defensive lineman: +125
Wright’s thoughts: “What I think would be a massive overdraft, but the Jets are kind of known to massively overdraft [players]. The Jets are one of the top picks for, ‘Team Most Likely To Have Their Owner Completely Reshuffle Their Board The Day Before The Draft.’”
Odds that Simpson is drafted by the Jets: +145
Wright’s thoughts: “The Lions still need an edge rusher opposite of Aidan Hutchinson.”
Odds that Lions use first pick on an edge rusher or defensive lineman: +200
Wright’s thoughts: “I feel like Jordan Addison’s star has dimmed over the last couple of years for lack of on-field production and off-field [stuff]. It feels like the defense has people everywhere already.”
Odds that Vikings use first pick on a wide receiver: +1800
Wright’s thoughts: “Get Bryce Young some offensive line help.”
Odds that Panthers use first pick on an offensive lineman: +400
Wright’s thoughts: “The Cowboys, remember, they thought Logan Wilson was going to transform the defense. That didn’t work out.”
Odds that Allen is a first-round pick: +110
Wright’s thoughts: “Cameron Hayward’s the oldest every-down defensive player in the league and T.J. Watt’s getting older. So I think Kayden McDonald is to try to add right now depth and then eventually heir apparent makes sense there.”
Odds that Steelers use first pick on an edge rusher or a defensive lineman: +600
Wright’s thoughts: “Yeah, they got the tackles back, but the interior of that offensive line, no one could win with that. Those excuses, I already see them being brewed up in Danny’s [Parkins] workshop. So they take one of the top interior offensive linemen.”
Odds that Chargers use first pick on an offensive lineman: +155
Wright’s thoughts: “The Eagles, I believe, anticipating an AJ Brown trade, end up drafting Omar Cooper.”
Odds that Eagles use first pick on a wide receiver: +400
Wright’s thoughts: “McCoy probably would have been a top 12 pick, but he totally blew out his knee prior to last year. Didn’t play last year. Now, he might not be a first-round pick. Those are the types of guys, if you’re Cleveland with your second first round pick, I think you should look at like the super high upside, even if he takes a minute to get acclimated.”
Over/under on number of cornerbacks drafted in first round: 4.5
Wright’s thoughts: “He’s the tackle from Alabama that we saw, catching the passes and rumbling and running down like the most athletic 380-pounder I’ve ever seen in my life. I feel like the Bears all of a sudden have to address left tackle because of that, and so we have him going there.”
Odds that Bears use first pick on an offensive lineman: +700
Wright’s thoughts: “The Bills have been trying to get corner correct in the draft for a couple of years. I know they just drafted Maxwell Hairston. They take another shot at it with Terrell out of Clemson.”
Odds that Bills use first pick on a cornerback: +275
Wright’s thoughts: “I think the Niners need to start looking at a post-Trent Williams world, especially at his age.”
Odds that 49ers use first pick on an offensive lineman: +115
28. Houston Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Wright’s thoughts: “The Texans always need to address the offensive line.”
Odds that Texans use first pick on an offensive lineman: -140
Wright’s thoughts: “The Chiefs go with secondary help after losing Jaylen Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Bryan Cook this offseason with Thieneman out of Oregon.”
Odds that Thieneman is a first-round pick: -4000
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Wright’s thoughts: “Dolphins also take a safety, McNeil-Warren, out of Toledo.”
Odds that McNeil-Warren is a first-round pick: -260
Wright’s thoughts: “Then the Patriots lost Stefon Diggs, having not necessarily traded for A.J. Brown. They take Denzel Boston out of Washington.”
Odds that Patriots use first pick on a wide receiver: +370
Wright’s thoughts: “The Seahawks, after losing a few of the defenders in free agency, add to their defensive depth with Cassius Howell, the edge rusher out of Texas A&M.”
Odds that Seahawks use first pick on an edge rusher: +400
