Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
GLENDALE – When one analyst connects some dots, it could be just noise. Although when several start drawing the same line, it becomes direction and eventually shows the bigger picture. Now, ESPN’s Ben Solak has predicted that for the 2026 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals are indeed interested in one certain draft prospect.
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Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (QB17) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Who the Cardinals are tied to in the 2026 NFL Draft:
The growing belief that the Arizona Cardinals could trade up for Alabama QB Ty Simpson isn’t just draft speculation; it’s an organizational signal. Teams rarely telegraph intent, but patterns emerge through consensus. Right now, the league is circling Arizona as a team unwilling to stand still at quarterback.
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) passes against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
NFL teams that draft starting quarterbacks on rookie contracts have dominated recent roster-building cycles, allowing flexibility in free agency and depth construction. Arizona, currently tied to veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, lacks that long-term cost-controlled upside. Simpson represents a reset button, even if he doesn’t start immediately.
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) hands off the ball to Alabama Crimson Tide running back Kevin Riley (28) on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, during the 112th annual Rose Bowl game in Pasadena. Indiana Hoosiers defeated Alabama Crimson Tide, 38-3. Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
What makes Simpson intriguing isn’t just physical tools; it’s processing. His pre-snap recognition and anticipation extend well into timing-based systems. In a division featuring the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks, schematic efficiency isn’t optional; it’s survival. But this is where the risk lives. Simpson isn’t a finished product, as accuracy concerns and limited off-script creation raise questions about ceiling versus system dependency. If the Cardinals move up, they would be declaring a new timeline. When multiple credible voices align, it’s rarely a coincidence. For Arizona, a move made at the quarterback position may be the first real step toward relevance.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
