Now that we’re past the 2026 NFL Combine, the NFL mock drafts have really started to pour in. The latest news from ESPN is a little interesting.
While we all wonder if Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a first-round pick, some think he might be. In our latest Christian D’Andrea NFL mock draft, he’s not a first-round pick. But in Jordan Reid’s new ESPN mock draft, he has Simpson heading to…the Arizona Cardinals, who appear to be replacing Kyler Murray. what else? He had the team trade up to select No. 28 to acquire a quarterback.
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This is his take:
Kyler Murray’s days in Arizona appear to be numbered, and the Cardinals have plenty of quarterback questions. So I have them going back to the bottom of the first round to get their quarterback of the future. Simpson is a perfect fit for new coach Mike LaFleur’s offense. Simpson has a strong presence in the game, but is best at short and mid-range shooting. His lack of starting experience (15 starts) makes him a bit of a risk here, but Arizona still has veteran Jacoby Brissett for one more year to serve as a bridge until Simpson is ready to be QB1.
charming! Be sure to check out D’Andrea’s NFL Mock Draft!
This article originally appeared in “For the Win”: ESPN NFL Mock Draft 2026 Cardinals trade QB Ty Simpson
