The Cardinals sit at No. 5 of the 2026 NFL Draft ahead of their season finale against the Los Angeles Rams, but Arizona doesn’t look to be in prime position to take the best quarterback should they go that route.
Arizona (3-13) is tied with the New York Giants, Jets and Tennessee Titans for the second-worst record in the league, but all three are in higher slots due to a weaker strength of schedule.
The likely top quarterbacks in the draft, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore, could be gone with QB-needy teams like the Raiders and Jets ahead of Arizona in draft order ahead of Week 18.
CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson mocked Simpson to the Cardinals as the third quarterback taken in the first round, behind Mendoza and Moore, whom he projected to the Raiders and Jets at No. 1 and No. 3, respectively.
Simpson is a big-armed pocket passer who plays with composure and outstanding mental processing both before and after the snap. He plays with an aggressive confidence and excels at navigating muddy pockets, throwing accurately on short and intermediate routes, and ripping tight-window throws with anticipation — though he has been historically inconsistent on deep balls. Simpson is athletic enough to buy time with his legs to extend plays and move the sticks.
Simpson has been impressive this season, passing for 3,500 yards (6th in nation), 28 touchdowns (T-8th) and five interceptions with a 76.6 quarterback rating (19th). Simpson has been one of the main stars for an Alabama team that will play Indiana in the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinals of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff on Jan. 1.
Despite his season, some aren’t as high on Simpson, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper, who did not list him on his big board of top 25 draft prospects. USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz was another writer not as high on Simpson as he mocked the 6-foot-2 junior to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20.
At one point this fall, Simpson was coming along so quickly in his first season as a starter that he looked like he could be a legitimate challenger to be the first quarterback taken in the draft despite his shortage of experience. Now, that notion seems fairly distant, as he’s struggled a good deal in the last month. Simpson still could threaten for a slot somewhere in the top 10, but his stock might be slightly volatile if he declares and lasts beyond that point.
The Cardinals (.577) could potentially pick as high as second and as low as seventh in the draft. Arizona would clinch a top-five slot in the first round should they lose to the Rams on Sunday.
How much of a need is quarterback for the Cardinals?
While the Cardinals could go several directions in the first round, including offensive tackle, running back and wide receiver, quarterback could be the No. 1 need for Arizona if they move on from Kyler Murray this offseason.
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Murray played in the Cardinals’ first five games before suffering a sprained foot in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans. He was eventually placed on injured reserve after the Cardinals’ Week 9 win against the Dallas Cowboys and was later ruled out for the season.
Murray, who is in the middle of a five-year contract extension that runs through 2028, is owed a base salary of $22.8 million in 2026 with a $17 million roster bonus and a $53.3 million cap hit, per Over the Cap.
Since Week 5, veteran backup Jacoby Brissett has started for the Cardinals and put up decent numbers. However, the Cardinals have posted a 1-10 record since he took over the starting job. Brissett is under contract next season as part of a two-year deal he signed in March.
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