NFL hopeful AJ Simon dead week before draft

AJ Simon was a defensive lineman from the University of Albany who was projected to be a late round pick or undrafted free agent as a result of the upcoming NFL Draft.

Not anymore.

Simon has passed away at the age of 25, just one week before the NFL draft.

"The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral ‘AJ’ Simon this morning," the college said in a statement. "AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. He was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years."

Albany is not a football powerhouse, so somebody with a pedigree worthy of NFL consideration was obviously an important part of their community.

"Simon, a 2023 All-CAA first-team defensive selection, was from Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. He played the past two seasons for Albany after beginning his collegiate career at Bloomsburg University," Simon's pre-draft report from ESPN says.