Arizona Sports' April 22 roundtable on the Cardinals' quarterback future split cleanly down the middle, with one host eyeing Ty Simpson in 2026 and others arguing the team should wait for a deeper class in 2027.
Dan Bickley made the most direct case for moving now, saying the Cardinals should draft Ty Simpson because he represents a lottery ticket for a last-place team playing in the best division in football. Bickley said he watched Simpson live three times in the back half of the season and was told by smart people that the quarterback was excellent over the first half before injuries and a severe case of gastritis pushed him down the board.
The roundtable, published at 10:45 AM and updated at 12:37 PM on April 22, 2026, centered on a simple question with major consequences for the Cardinals: whether to spend a 2026 draft pick on a quarterback or hold off for next year. Simpson was the name that kept coming up, but the discussion also kept returning to the idea that 2027 could offer a much stronger field.
John Gambadoro took the clearest stand against drafting a quarterback this year, saying, “I would NOT draft a QB in 2026 and punt until next season with what is expected to be a great draft class.” He added that he was worried taking Simpson now could stop the Cardinals from selecting a quarterback next year. Luke Lapinski said almost the same thing, offering, “I wouldn’t. At least not early,” and pointing to 2027 as a class the Cardinals have to consider because it is loaded with names such as Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin and Jayden Maiava. Lapinski said several of those players already have as much college starting experience as Simpson.
Ron Wolfley offered a different kind of caution. He said, “I don’t want the Cardinals to draft a QB in 2026, but I am fascinated by the possibility,” and added that if they did go high for one, head coach Mike LaFleur would be the reason. Wolfley also said Monti Ossenfort would never force a quarterback on LaFleur, which frames the decision less as a front-office power play than a question of how the staff sees the roster and the future.
Vince Marotta was not sold on the idea of a trade back into the first round to land Simpson, saying, “Personally, I’m not all that enamored with the idea of the Cardinals trading back into the first round of the draft to select Ty Simpson.” He floated another path, saying the Cardinals could take a quarterback in the fourth round or fifth round and roll the dice on Cole Payton, Cade Klubnik or Carson Beck instead.
That leaves the Cardinals with a choice that is as much about timing as talent. If they do not take a quarterback in 2026, they are betting the future class is worth the wait. If they do, they are betting Simpson or another passer can justify spending draft capital now in a season when the rest of the division is not giving anyone much room to breathe.
The latest questions around the Cardinals QB plan have only grown sharper with Jacoby Brissett’s absence raising fresh questions for the Cardinals QB plan, and the next draft will show whether Arizona wants certainty now or a better swing later.