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!
I vote for the plan 1 Simpson option after a trade down to 11. But, I would prefer a Ed/DL at #43. Once CC retires or moves on, AZ will have one of the worst DL in the league. I would take K. McDonald DT or Z Young ED around the 40 range.
ReplyDeleteGood points, Simpleman 2026. I had McDonald in another mock, but he wasn't on the board this time, otherwise I would have tabbed him.
ReplyDeleteI just don't know why even support this team. With the whitewashing, the Trump support, etc. should probably just abandon all support.
ReplyDeleteTeam is in a tough position. They can't run back another season like 2025. Its been four years of bad foitball. They need to give fans a reason to tune in on Sunday. Give the rookie coach some weapons on the line and in the backfield. Rodgers would at least be interesting while we develop Simpson.
ReplyDeleteThis team isn’t going to win many games this season — and honestly, that’s to be expected. With a new inexperienced weak resume’d staff, they’re simply not built to contend right now (not tanking, just talent, experience growth -deficient) and will have a prime chance to land one of the three NFL-ready, projected can’t-miss QBs in the 2027 draft. We can’t risk missing on another quarterback. Focus this draft on building the roster — edge rushers, offensive line, and key pieces — and get the squad developed so it’s ready to compete with a rookie QB on a rookie contract.
ReplyDeleteWalter here is how I have my draft board at current time (through 4 rnds):
ReplyDelete(1) Baine or Baily (ED)
(2) Iheanchor (OT)
(3) Rutledge / Stephens (OG)
(4) Chambliss / Nussmeier (QB)
-- I appreciate your analysis of Ty Simpson; I like Nussmeier as a rnd 4 pick if we're getting a year to develop a QB. Both Chambliss and Nussmeier have shown some toughness from the pocket. (after watching the scared little wabbit for 7yrs, I want someone who stands in pocket and delivers the football).
-- Iheanchor looks tailor made at RT; no need for #3 OT pick so popular with Nat'l media - What we really need is another pass rusher opposite Sweat; Baine & Bailey look like 'can't miss' prospects
--I could just have easily swapped 3rd/4th round selections - so some flexibility on draft day to go for best of bunch...
--May want to go for a later round (5/6) pick at Safety to fill in for loss of expected loss of J Thompson. Also, will likely need to replace (WR) Dortch with Rnd 5/6 pick.
That is my take at this way to early moment for draft; this could change with FA moves MB/MO might screw up.
I agree with your R1 and R2 choices, Redrun. I think Garrett Nussmeier is definitely going to be a Day 2 pick. He's got an "it" factor to his game. And GMs and scouts saw that in spades at the Senior Bowl. I am not sure he will make it to the first pick in the 2nd round.
DeleteAs for Trinidad Chambliss a judge granted him another year of eligibility to play at Ole Miss. At least we get to see him tee it up another year in college.
There are quite a few Day 3 guards who would be very good picks. I think most teams are going to wait until Day 3 to address the G position.
In R4, any one of these safeties would be a coup: Kyle Lewis (PIT), Bud Clark, TCU and our new secondary coach Zac Etheridge's dawg from The U, Jakobe Thomas.
A safety in R6 to take a close study of is Cole Wisniewski of Texas Tech.
In 23 days, Kyler Murray’s fate will settle the Cardinals' books. Whether he is cut (most likely), traded, or extended, the decision on his roster bonus will define Arizona's salary cap and free agency budget, ultimately dictating which positions they must prioritize in the upcoming draft.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part of the Kyler Murray story...
DeleteHe (Kyler) has been the best QB drafted by the Cardinals franchise since Jim Hart. The Cardinals have a horrendous record on drafting and developing a QB. Best to bring in a veteran like Warner/Palmer then wasting another #1 draft selection.
Completely agree on drafting and developing-how could anyone disagree given their track record. That's why I am rooting for them to wait til '27 to draft a QB. Per a consensus of “respected experts” (sure), three "can’t-miss NFL ready" QBOF prospects are coming in to save the day—basically removing any need for MO/MB to think at all, which might be the biggest upgrade this franchise could hope for.
DeleteBest overall talent but one of worst attitudes imaginable.
DeleteKyler lost me in the playoff game -v- Rams; that alone showed me who and what Murray stood for. May he have greater success elsewhere. All the natural talent in the world means nothing when you don't work to master your craft. Hard work is why someone like Brady/Warner will always be greater than super-athlete like Murray.
DeleteOther than his entitled self and a reasonable acknowledgment that he would've been BETTER if drafted by a quality franchise, question for the class here-Would Murray be considered a QBOF, as in a Blue Chip championship cornerstone, if drafted by a stable winning franchise?
DeleteA comparison of Herbert and Murray. Pretty similar in a lot of ways. One is on a competent team the other on a dysfunctional team. On another team Kyler would have showed better in all aspects of his play. Kliff let the inmates run the asylum, and Gannon put together a weak and inexperience team of assistance to help run the team. Both coaches were receipts for disasters. Just took a little longer for the train to derail under Kliff . Since 61 I do appreciate your open mindness when it comes to Kyler. It seems some want to pretend the Arizona cardinals are a well run, competent, organization on the upswing. I think Kyler did the best he could, just as Watts did the best he could, just as McBride is doing the best he can.
DeleteI'm not convinced that Aaron Rodgers at this point in his career is any better than Brissett. Here are their stats for last season:
ReplyDeleteRodgers- 16 GP, 3322 yds, 65.7%, 6.7 YPA, 24 TD 7 INT 29 Sack 94.8 RTG
Brissett- 14 GP, 3366 Yds, 64.9%, 6.9 YPA, 23 TD 9 INT 43 Sack 94.1 RTG
Either way, I like Simpson but I hate idea of the Cardinals AGAIN passing on a top edge rusher in the top 5. The last time an edge was drafted top 5 by this team was Wadsworth in 98. Since then the team took Leonard Davis over Justin Smith, Kyler over Nick Bosa, and passed on Will Anderson in favor of PJJ. I think both Bailey and Bane are going to be very good in the NFL an while Simpson may be pretty good, this defense is never getting fixed until the pass rush becomes a point of emphasis.
Walt always does a great job comparing the lack of experience of our coaching staffs to those of our division rivals. Yesterday, Theo Mackie updated those comparisons after the Cards filed out their staff for next season: "the Cardinals’ average positional coach has fewer than one season of experience doing that job in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, last year’s Super Bowl participants, the Seahawks and Patriots — had 119 seasons and 74 seasons, respectively, of NFL positional coaching experience among their position coaches.
Seahawks: 119 years
49ers: estimated 90+ years
Rams: estimated 80+ years
Cardinals: <10 years
Monty, who drafts talent only to have it wasted under coaches still finding their footing, has repeated the same disastrous staffing mistakes as the last regime. His ability to learn from failure is as broken as his boss’s
Great work, 61. Any chance we now see any senior advisors this time around? Would you say, "Slim to none. and Slim just left Glendale?"
DeleteSlim is not a fan of nor connected in any way to our Cardinals. Recently seen around town wearing an LA cap.
Delete