Three QB Ideas for Cardinals

By Walter Mitchell

Note: the format of my "Jacoby Surpasses Kyler" blog got messed up and I tried everything I could to fix it, but nothing worked. I even tried cutting and pasting it into another new article thread and that didn't work. So, rather than lose what i had written, I posted it, only to find that the format left out the comments section. If you have comments about the Jacoby/Kyler blog, please share them today in the comments section below. As always, we are keenly interested in reading your thoughts. 

Why the Cardinals could be very wise to settle the QB room this year.

Idea 1: Aaron Rodgers and Ty Simpson

Mike LaFleur and his staff need to do everything they can to try to win games this year. This is a team that has become too accustomed to losing games. If 2026 becomes yet another "tank" job, you can stick a fork into Cardinals for another 3 years. Tanking is the worst thing a franchise can do to its players and coaches because it renders them as lame ducks and mere pawns and attaches the stigma of losers and quitters to their names.

Because Ty Simpson is immensely skilled and is worthy of being drafted in the top 10. Fans often make the mistake of putting way too much stock into the so-called "draft rankings" that, quite frankly, are often bogus. 

Take Lamar Jackson, for example.  I argued very passionately for the Cardinals to take him in round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft Fans thought I was out of my mind. Well, Lamar Jackson was taken with the #32 pick that year by the Ravens. He was won 2 NFL MVP awards since. Here was where Lamar Jackson was taken in ESPN's 2018 redraft five years later.

Re-drafting first two rounds of 2018 NFL class five years later - ESPN

2. New York Giants

Original pick: Saquon Barkley, RB
Miller's new pick: Lamar Jackson QB     __________________________________________

No QB is quite like Lamar Jackson. But the point is, the so-called draft gurus are very much hot and cold on QB prospects. 

Why Ty Simpson is such a good fit for Mike LaFleur and Nathaniel Hackett:

1. The skillset --- big-time arm from the pocket, athletic upside. And who could Ty Simpson very much remind them of?  Aaron Rodgers. Same size, 6-2, 210, very similar football IQs and skillsets. 

2. Like Aaron Rodgers, Ty Simpson is going to need a transition year to adapt his game to the NFL. 

3. Mike LaFleur already knows how interested Sean McVay is in Simpson. If McVay is keenly interested to the point of hiring Kliff Kingsbury to be Ty's QB whisperer, then what does that suggest about Ty Simpson's draft stock?

The other fascinating aspect of this is Nathaniel Hackett's relationship with Aaron Rodgers. 

Looks like the Steelers are moving on:

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/aaron-rodgers-unlikely-return-steelers-233732835.html

I think given his druthers, Aaron Rodgers would rather play for Mike LaFleur and Nathaniel Hackett than for Mike McCarthy. 

Imagine then, the Cardinals signing Aaron Rodgers and drafting Ty Simpson as the QBOF. Simpson would not only be learning from Mike LaFleur, Nathaniel Hackett and Matt Schaub, but he would also be learning from Aaron Rodgers himself. For a young QB who fits the Aaron Rodgers mold that is a dream team scenario.

4. The Cardinals, knowing that the Rams pick #13, could elect to trade down from #3 but remain in the top 12 and still be able to draft Ty Simpson and have significantly more draft capital. 

Man, Sean McVay would be pissed! 

Forget the PFF grades. 

Every one of these picks is a home run. Cards get their QBOF now in Ty Simpson, their starting RT in Max Iheanachor, the key to Miami's DB dominance for new CB coach Zac Etheridge in Keionte Scott, a star quality WR in Elijah Sarratt who patterns his game after CeeDee Lamb's, arguably the best playmaking WILB in Jacob Rodriguez, one of the most under-rated edges in Jaishawn Barham from Michigan, a bruising LG in Beau Stephens, Rodriguez's Texas Tech playmaking partner in crime in S Cole Wisniewski, and one of the smoothest, sure-handed slot WRs in this draft in BC's Lewis Bond.

John Frascella (Football)

@NFLFrascella

Frascella’s Most UNDERRATED potential 1st round values in the 2026 NFL Draft: (Excluding all ‘obvious’ high-end players) - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama - Christen Miller, DT, Georgia - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M - Caleb Lomu, T, Utah - Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami - Chris Bell, WR, Louisville - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon - Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana - Emanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Idea 2: Tanner McKee and Jacoby Brissett

Jace, Me and Tanner McKee!

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Jace and I have been on the trade for Tanner McKee wagon for months now. Here is a video he sent me. It's an excellent showcasing as to why we are so high on him. Have a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wacfXjtx9CY

Here was my reaction to the video:

Excellent video. Seeing Tanner connect so well with Johnny Wilson makes you wonder how good he could be for Marv. He throws such a catchable ball. Love how he throws over the middle using his height and arm to his advantage. The one question is whether Mike LaFleur will prefer someone with more of a rocket arm and a little more athletic mobility. Like Ty Simpson, for example. I think Tanner times his passes so well that he doesn't often need a rocket arm. And he's plenty athletic enough to maneuver in and around the pocket. But his pure physical skills don't pop off the screen. Some people said the same thing about Tom Brady. The name of the game is pocket maneuverability, timing and accuracy. Look at Brock Purdy. He's so good at all three.

Here's more of Jace's:

Hello my friend! I am in the process of cooking up an off-season guide for each position the Cardinals need to address and came across this video with the guy I think both of us want as the starting QB in 2026. If you have time / if you haven't seen it - great watch! I would love to see McKee get a FULL OFFSEASON with first team reps and for him to get a whole season to show what he's got

love his size and accuracy.

We believe the Cardinals will need to offer the Eagles their 3rd round pick, #65.

Note: Tanner McKee was Michael Wilson's and Elijah Higgins' QB at Stanford. The familiarity among McKee, Wilson and Higgins is an added attraction. 

Cardinals would have a year to evaluate Tanner McKee as their QBOF. If he's their guy, the sign him long-term. If not, they focus on the 2027 draft class.

Idea 3: Jacoby Brissett and Garrett Nussmeier

One can imagine Mike LaFleur and Nathaniel Hackett absolutely loving Garrett Nussmeier for the same reasons these guys do (quick video):

https://youtube.com/shorts/1XwK5y-l0ok?si=HDWbTtt1wH2IT5fw

Watch Garrett's skillset and toughness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rqISBLHwZY

NFL Player Comps:

Ty Simpson - Aaron Rodgers

Tanner McKee - Sam Darnold

Garrett Nussmeier - Baker Mayfield

Which Plan Do You Prefer?

* Plan 1: Aaron Rodgers and Ty Simpson

* Plan 2: Tanner McKee and Jacoby Brissett

* Plan 3: Jacoby Brissett and Garrett Nussmeier