With free agency just days away, the Arizona Cardinals made it known that quarterback Kyler Murray was going to be released, and Arizona is moving on from the No. 1 overall-pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Sources say the Cardinals will likely seek a bridge quarterback in the first year under new head coach Mike LaFleur. However, some sources say there are staff members with the Cardinals who really like Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Whether they like Simpson well enough to take him with the third-overall pick is unclear, but there are team evaluators who are high on Simpson.
Some sources say they view Simpson as a good fit for LaFleur’s offense. Simpson is a coach’s kid with a high football I.Q. and is an accurate quarterback with mobility. All of those traits are a fit for LaFleur, and sources say Simpson did very well in his combine interview with Arizona. The Cardinals are likely to sign a veteran who is capable of being a bridge starter, and that will give them the option to pass or take a quarterback in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Arizona could also consider trading down and taking Simpson. That approach would carry risk because another team could snatch him up before he gets to their pick. Plus, trading down is always easier said than done when picking high in the first round. The Cardinals also could look to trade back into the first round from their high second-round pick to land Simpson if he slips low enough. In my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, I have the first approach being more applicable if they want to land Simpson. While there is still signficant part of the process still to come, some sources with the Cardinals really like Simpson and believe in his ability to be a good pro starter.
