Cardinals' #1 QBOF Target: Brendan Sorsby
By Walter Mitchell
Yes, the Cardinals have been doing their due diligence on Alabama QB Ty Simpson, imo, in case he's on the board at pick #34 and they would want to see what players are at the top of their board to decide which has the most upside.
That said, the main reason why I believe Monti Ossenfort is not going to draft Ty Simpson is in thanks to the extensive work Monti, Dave Sears and the Cardinals' scouts put in on Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby.
At the time, they were hoping that Sorsby would declare himself eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, he hit the portal as one of the top QBs available and after getting a number of lucrative offers (including a $3.5M offer from Lane Kiffin at LSU, he wound up picking Texas Tech for a rumored $5M.
If you watch Brendan Sorsby's highlights at Cincinnati, he looks like a 6'3" 235 version of Josh Allen.
* Dynamic RPO QB who runs fast and tough.
* As a passer he has full command of the pocket and gets the ball out quickly.
* Yet his most impressive attribute may well be his uncanny ability to throw off the run, both to his right and to his left.
Here's a strong showcase:
https://youtu.be/3ZQcHKiCDkw?si=XZjAj6_jzsVng3PC
Other Bearcats to look for in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Would not be surprised in the least to see Monti try to get ahead of taking Sorsby in next year's draft by picking:
Possible Day 2 Pick:
Jake Golday, ILB, 6-4, 240, Cincinnati, 4.62
- 2025: First-team All-Big 12. Led team with 105 tackles. Started 12 games (6 TFLs with 3.5 sacks, 3 PBUs, FF).
Overview
Golday is a big, explosive linebacker with a game best suited for work near the line of scrimmage. He attacks climbing blockers with heavy, aggressive hands. He also shows the strength to stack, compress gaps and finish with authority. While his performance at the point of attack stands out, he can be a little late diagnosing play design and needs to work with a more preemptive downhill trigger at times. He’s more powerful than elusive as a blitzer and is average in coverage. Golday’s traits, explosiveness and field demeanor should make him an early special teams standout with the potential to eventually start at Sam or inside linebacker.
Strengths
- Explosive athlete with impressive size.
- Attacks blocks and constricts run flow with heavy hands.
- Scrapes with tempo alterations to leverage the run.
- Effective use of hands to play off blockers and make sudden tackles.
- Comes to balance and has good stopping power as a tackler.
- Not easily manipulated out of his zone by the quarterback’s eyes.
- Can immediately step in as a kick-cover talent.
Weaknesses
- Average quickness to diagnose and read the play design.
- Will work under blocks and lose the angle on occasion.
- Needs a quicker downhill trigger to blow up the blocking scheme.
- Long legs with average short-area agility in coverage.
- Could struggle covering running backs if asked.
- Linear pass rusher with below-average elusiveness.
Possible Day 3 Picks:
Cyrus Allen, WR, 5-11, 185, Cincinnati, 4.49
2025 stats: 49 catches for 661 yards, 13.4 average, 12 TDs
Overview
Slender-framed slot target with field-stretching speed and talent to work all three levels of the field. Allen has elements to improve on as a route-runner, but his sudden acceleration and top-end speed create separation on a consistent basis. He’s a menace on go routes and slot fades. He has adequate hands but will end up on the wrong side of contested catches. Elusiveness after the catch could create additional value for Allen, who could become a productive playmaker as a middle-round pick.
Strengths
- Puts immediate pressure on defense with burst off the line.
- Short-route tempo bolsters separation.
- Excellent top-end speed to separate on go routes and slot fades.
- Was a consistent winner in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl.
- Quick stick-and-stop on stop routes and quickly transitions from catch to run.
- Provides run-game support with his run-after-catch talent on slot screens.
- Slips tacklers in tight quarters with jitterbug quickness.
Weaknesses
- Will need to prove himself against tight press looks.
- Rounded routes put quarterback’s throws in harm’s way.
- Inconsistent balance getting out of sharp breaks.
- Gets pushed around when sharing the catch space.
- Average path adjustments when tracking the deep ball.
- 2024: First-team All-Big 12 Conference. Set school record for a TE with 50 receptions (521 yards, 10.4 per, 3 TDs), beating Travis Kelce's mark of 45. Started all 12 games.
- 2025: Third-team All-Big 12. Started all 13 games (29-416-14.3, 4 TDs).
Overview
Two-year starter at Cincinnati after three uneventful seasons at Ohio State. Royer is low-cut with a long torso and good foot quickness. He is better over the first two levels, with a more basic route tree allowing him to flow. He’s physical as a pass-catcher when needed and makes combat catches that others might drop. He shows enough toughness and technique as a blocker to expect him to improve in that area. Royer has TE2/3 potential if he continues to polish his game.
Strengths
- Good foot quickness getting in and out of breaks.
- Fights through physical coverage at the top of his routes.
- Hangs on tight to the catch through heavy collisions.
- Competitive running after the catch.
- Fits up most base blocks with good body control.
- Adequate radar to find work as a lead blocker across the formation.
Weaknesses
- Benefitted from schemed looks and busted coverages.
- Has trouble reigniting his route quickly after slowing his feet.
- Diminishing catch threat as the route travels vertical.
- Struggles to hold the line against power at the point.
- Run blocking needs better patience and consistency of technique.
- 2024 (Lindenwood): First-team All-Big South/Ohio Valley Conference. Finalist for the Walter Payton Award (top FCS player). Led team with 53 receptions, 1,032 receiving yards (19.5 per), 11 receiving TDs. Started all 12 games (1-14-14.0 KR).
- 2025: Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference. Played in all 13 games with 11 starts (32-478-14.9, 6 TDs).
Overview
Caldwell is a developmental prospect with enticing traits and a need for better fundamentals. He’s a long-strider with the ability to create separation vertically, but his route-running is underdeveloped and he needs tutoring on how best to set up routes. Caldwell’s contested-catch rate is disappointing for a player with his size and ability. Coaching should help create more advantages in that area, but he might need to ratchet up his competitiveness on 50/50 balls, as well. His production at Cincinnati won’t excite, but his NFL Scouting Combine performance shows there could be more upside to unlock, which makes him worthy of a middle-round pick as a backup “Z” receiver.
Strengths
- Very tall with an expansive catch radius.
- Averaged a touchdown every four catches in college.
- Capable of making spectacular one-handed grabs.
- Has access to a stride-and-separate button.
- Good awareness to drop and drag both feet in-bounds.
- Size/athleticism to add more yards with wiggle and force.
- Showed rare speed/explosiveness at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Weaknesses
- Needs to make the drive phase more believable on comebacks.
- Lacks experience beyond a basic set of routes.
- Fails to stack and control cornerbacks on verticals.
- Inconsistent use of size to battle for catch-space.
- Waits on 50/50 throws to get there instead of attacking them.
- Average catch focus and suddenness with his hands.
- 2025: Second-team All-Big 12. Started 10 games (13 tackles).
By Lance Zierlein
Overview
Squatty run-down defender with a broad build and natural play strength. Corleone, aka “The Godfather”, lacks ideal length and shed quickness, so he might need to come off the ball with better explosiveness to help create an advantage early in the rep. He’s rarely on the ground, generally playing with squared pads and good short-area athleticism. A bout with blood clots in 2024 could require additional medical work for NFL teams during their evaluation, but Corleone appears to have enough talent to compete for a backup role as an even-front nose tackle.
Strengths
- Frame is compact, girthy and broad.
- Plus play strength with hand leverage at the point of attack.
- Good short-area foot quickness and athleticism.
- Booming club strikes help knock blockers off-balance.
- Stays on his feet and searches for the ball through contact.
- Brute force to constrict the pocket with his bull rush.
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t operate with disruptive first-step quickness.
- Shorter arms with average block control as two-gapper.
- Lacks hip sink to defend and defeat angle blocks.
- Would like to see better knock-back pop into first contact.
- Fails to gain ground and threaten edges as a pass rusher.
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