Hours before the NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh, a photo of popular TV host Kay Adams and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson enjoying a plate of Buffalo Wild Wings has taken social media by storm. The image, posted by Adams on Thursday afternoon, has already racked up over 1.2 million views and more than 4,600 likes.
“Stealing french fries is my definitive draft skill,” Adams wrote in the caption. “@BWWings sorry Ty Simpson!” The casual pre-draft hangout has fans buzzing about what’s next for the 2026 draft’s No. 2 quarterback prospect.
Simpson’s Rise to the Spotlight
Simpson, one of 16 prospects attending the draft in person, threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns during the 2025 season—a performance that skyrocketed his stock. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Jets are the teams most frequently linked to Simpson in mock drafts and front-office chatter.
“It feels, to me at least, like the Jets are comfortable moving forward without spending a high pick on a quarterback this year—with three first-rounders to address that in the 2027 draft,” Breer wrote. “Would the Cardinals take him at 34? Or trade into the first round to get him? Would the Rams take him at 13? Or maneuver with their picks—because they don’t have another pick between 13 and 61—to get into a more appropriate spot to take him?”
Rams Connection Runs Deep
Keep an eye on Los Angeles. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Rams GM Les Snead told Simpson’s father that Ty is “in fact, a first-rounder.” That inside line came as Simpson was deciding whether to leave Alabama for the pros.
“When Ty Simpson was trying to decide whether or not he should come out of Alabama and enter the draft, his father consulted with, among other people, Les Snead, the GM of the Rams, who told him Ty was, in fact, a first-rounder,” Rapoport said via On3. “Could the Rams, maybe in a trade-back situation, be looking at Simpson? We shall see.”
The Rams don’t have a clear successor for Matthew Stafford, so drafting Simpson would make plenty of sense. If they trade back from No. 13, they could still land him while adding more picks.
Draft Night Drama
While Simpson’s draft destination remains uncertain, the buzz around him is undeniable. Some analysts, like Dan Orlovsky, have made a last-minute plea to GMs not to sleep on Simpson. Meanwhile, the pre-draft scene has been full of its own drama—from a Chiefs assistant coach’s arrest to ESPN facing scrutiny over a photo scandal.
The NFL Draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Wherever Simpson lands, his pre-draft wing date with Adams has already made him one of the most talked-about players of the night.
