Ty Simpson
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Ty Simpson could be the best fit for the Arizona Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals moved on from longtime starter Kyler Murray this offseason, leaving some big questions at quarterback.
For now, the QB room includes Jacoby Brissett and recently signed free agent Gardner Minshew, but there’s plenty of speculation that Arizona may target a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. With the No. 3 pick, the Cardinals will almost certainly miss out on consensus top player Fernando Mendoza, but ESPN listed Arizona as the top landing spot for the next best option.
Draft analyst Jordan Reidtabbed the Cardinals as the best fit for former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, citing his high football IQ and sneaky athleticism.
“Ty’s football smarts and awareness are easy to see,” wrote Reid. “Simpson was given a lot of pre-snap autonomy and was frequently seen altering protections and plays. His recognition of defenses is well beyond a typical QB prospect with 15 career starts.”
“Simpson is an underrated athlete whose pocket maneuverability is among the best of any passer in this year’s class. He also can make plays outside of structure. Of his 30 total touchdowns last season (28 passing, two rushing), seven came when Simpson was outside of the pocket. He’s savvy with recognizing and adjusting to pre-snap looks.”
Does Ty Simpson Fit in with the Arizona Cardinals’ Plans at Quarterback?
Simpson’s draft range has been hotly debated among analysts, with some seeing him as a top-10 pick, while others see him as a Day 2 selection. For Arizona, finding that range may prove to be challenging. While taking Simpson at No. 3 may be too early, the Alabama signal-caller may not be available at the Cardinals’ next pick at No. 34. In all likelihood, a trade would have to happen for Arizona to bring in their next franchise quarterback.
But with such a strong class of quarterbacks in 2027, the Cardinals may opt to wait to find their quarterback of the future. They’vealready been linked to star running back Jeremiyah Love as a potential option, and have a solid veteran at quarterback who can start another bridge year. Brissett proved to be a quality starter during Murray’s absence in 2025, throwing for 3,366 yards and 28 touchdowns in 14 games. New head coach Mike LaFleur may opt to roll with the veteran regardless of what happens in the draft.
Arizona May End Up with the Steal of the Draft According to Some Draft Analysts
Simpson made headlines earlier this month when ESPN analyst Dan Orlovskycalled him ‘the best quarterback in this class.’ It was a jarring statement that sent shockwaves across the NFL, leading to strong debates over Simpson’ true value. The overwhelming opinion is that Simpson is well behind where Mendoza is at the moment, but Orlovsky is very confident in the former Alabama quarterback.
Whether or not Arizona feels the same way will be evident based on how aggressive they get in trying to land him. It’s clear they won’t take him with their No. 3 pick, but a trade down, or up from No. 34, can’t be ruled out in their pursuit of Simpson.