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<\/p>\nGLENDALE \u2013 There\u2019s a difference between solving a problem and buying time in the NFL. For the Arizona Cardinals, the conversation of drafting Alabama QB Ty Simpson sits squarely in that gray area.<\/p>\n
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Alabama\u2019s Simpson (15) a touchdown pass during the College Football Playoff game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Gaylord Family \u2013 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday Dec. 19, 2025. Syndication: The Oklahoman<\/p>\n
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Simpson\u2019s resume at Alabama checks boxes that matter in today\u2019s NFL, as his efficiency, ball security, and command in high-pressure environments excelled. Completing 64.5% of his passes with a 28-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio isn\u2019t just solid, it\u2019s disciplined quarterbacking. He didn\u2019t lose games, and in college football\u2019s playoff race, that counts for something. But the NFL isn\u2019t just about minimizing mistakes. It\u2019s about creating advantages, and that\u2019s where the hesitation begins.<\/p>\n
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Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback 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<\/p>\n
Data shows that elite NFL quarterbacks typically separate themselves with explosive play rates and off-script production. Simpson\u2019s numbers, while clean, don\u2019t scream game-breaking. His yards per attempt and deep-ball aggression suggest a system operator more than a system elevator. For a Cardinals team trying to redefine its identity, that distinction matters.<\/p>\n
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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<\/p>\n
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From a strategic standpoint, drafting Simpson could signal restraint rather than ambition. In a weaker quarterback class, taking a \u201csafe\u201d prospect might stabilize the position short-term, but it risks locking the franchise into mediocrity if he tops out as average. Arizona and feel that tension. Cardinals supporters aren\u2019t just asking who can start; they\u2019re asking who can matter in January, especially after all the drama with former QB Kyler Murray.<\/p>\n
Cardinals have best odds to draft Ty Simpson:<\/p>\n
The Arizona Cardinals have the highest odds in Vegas to draft Ty Simpson, though. Could he be the kind of quarterback a team like the Cardinals could \u201ckick the tires on\u201d when the board doesn\u2019t offer a clear franchise changer? Ty Simpson could help the Cardinals function. He could even help them compete. But becoming the face of the franchise? That\u2019s a different standard entirely, and one he hasn\u2019t yet proven he can meet.<\/p>\n
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Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GLENDALE \u2013 There\u2019s a difference between solving a problem and buying time in the NFL. For the Arizona…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":818148,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2078],"tags":[930,375,390,27312,2604,1327,332,7,4725,2004,4826,9737,6,18534,31456,20708],"class_list":{"0":"post-818147","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arizona-cardinals","8":"tag-alabama-crimson-tide","9":"tag-arizona","10":"tag-arizona-cardinals","11":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","12":"tag-arizonacardinals","13":"tag-cardinals","14":"tag-college-football-playoff","15":"tag-football","16":"tag-indiana-hoosiers","17":"tag-indianapolis","18":"tag-kyler","19":"tag-mandatory-credit","20":"tag-nfl","21":"tag-phoenix-suns","22":"tag-rose-bowl-stadium","23":"tag-ty-simpson"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116247454919552838","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=818147"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818147\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/818148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=818147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=818147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=818147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}