It feels like the biggest conversation ahead of April’s 2026 NFL Draft is where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson will be picked and why.
Yes, there are conversations around how high Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love should go, which offensive lineman and which receiver will go first, but Simpson is the most up in the air.
Some have him drafted in the first few picks, others have teams trading back into the first round to nab him, and some have him sliding out of the first round.
Could the Rams or Cardinals Be the Perfect NFL Draft Spot for QB Ty Simpson?
Much of the debate around Simpson has focused on his lack of longevity, consistency, and experience at the college level.
The Crimson Tide’s quarterback had moments where he looked like one of the best passers in the country, playing in one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
Simpson finished last season with 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns with 5 interceptions through the air. He also added 93 yards on the ground. The Alabama product finished his college career with 33 total touchdowns and accounted for more than 4,000 total yards.
According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact metric, Simpson finished his lone season as a starter with a score of 85.4. That ranked him 25th in 2025 out of all of college football.
However, he also had moments where he didn’t look very good. Without more than one season of being able to find that consistent success, teams in the NFL seem unsure of his ability to be consistent.
This year’s quarterback class isn’t very strong, so Simpson could be taken earlier than many expect, given his traits.
ESPN analyst Louis Riddick joined Kay Adams’ “Up And Adams Show” on Thursday morning and gave two landing spots he believes Simpson could thrive in.
“How about out in L.A., where you’re in the warm weather, a stadium that’s covered? How about Arizona when you’re in a dome? I mean, it’s perfect,” Riddick said. “Those two teams are perfect. I think it’s gonna be one of those two.”
Riddick continued by explaining what about the Cardinals makes him confident that Simpson could fit in and succeed.
“If Mike LaFleur gets the help that he needs from the front office. They build it out. Look, it’s all dependent. He has to have an offensive line. You gotta have a good running game,” Riddick said.
“Everything has to work out, but yeah, I think he could be a decades-long starter and rip it up in that kind of system.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Rams and Cardinals are the two teams Riddick suggested. Both teams play indoors and have similar offensive systems; after all, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur came from the Rams.
That LaFleur and Rams head coach Sean McVay system is exactly what Riddick is targeting, one that doesn’t need the quarterback to be a superstar, but simply get the ball to their playmakers.
The Packers have quarterback Jordan Love and obviously don’t need to use a high draft pick on another quarterback. The Rams have quarterback Matthew Stafford, but could use a high draft pick on Simpson to have a couple of years to watch and learn behind a future Hall of Famer.
And the Cardinals are obviously a team in rebuild mode, with one of the biggest needs at quarterback. However, does Arizona want to swing for the fences this draft or wait until next year when there look to be more talented options available?
The Rams have already built the system in place for a quarterback to succeed, so the Rams’ drafting Simpson looks like it would be the best scenario for him.
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The Cardinals’ situation is intriguing, but there are many variables involved. It sounds great to say that you will build an offensive line and run game and surround a young quarterback with weapons, but implementing that is the biggest challenge.
The NFL Draft is seven days away. It should be an exciting opening night.
