It's been known pretty much since the Las Vegas Raiders clinched the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft that they'd be taking Fernando Mendoza. But with the NFL Draft just six days away, there isn't nearly as much certainty for Ty Simpson, the number two QB prospect. That may have changed recently.
On Friday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett is seeking starter money from the team. While many NFL fans laughed off the idea, NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah took it as a sign that the Cardinals will invest heavily into quarterback in the NFL Draft and declared that Simpson seems "inevitable" for them.
"Ty Simpson to AZ feels inevitable," Jeremiah remarked on X.
The Cardinals hold the No. 3 and No. 34 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and certainly won't use their high pick on Simpson. But there is a chance that the Cardinals could trade back into the first round using that No. 34 pick to snag Simpson before someone else does.
Such a move has already been predicted to happen by ESPN's longtime draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. It would mirror the tactic the New York Giants used to take Jaxson Dart in last year's draft.
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Simpson and the Tide
Simpson joined the Crimson Tide as a five-star recruit in 2022 but was primarily a backup for his first three years in Tuscaloosa before finally being named the starter in 2025. He quickly proved capable of leading the team, going 11-4 as a starter, leading the team to the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff.
Simpson finished his lone season as a starter with a 64.5-percent completion rate, 3,567 passing yards and 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He quickly emerged as the consensus No. 2 QB in the pre-draft process, behind only the inevitable No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
