We are so close to the 2026 NFL Draft that you can taste it. On Thursday night, fans are hoping to see a night filled with chaos. There have been rumors of many trades happening in Round 1 this year, and ESPN has projected a few of them in their latest mock draft by Matt Miller and Jeremy Fowler.
In this instance, the Arizona Cardinals would trade back into the first round with the Houston Texans for pick No. 28. The Cardinals would then select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, not giving the New York Jets a chance to take him in the second round. Here are Miller and Fowler’s thoughts.
“Simpson’s wait would end here. I’m told Houston is a natural trade-up point based on Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort’s past dealings with Texans GM Nick Caserio — they pulled off a blockbuster trade for the No. 3 overall pick in 2023. Simpson’s suitors are limited, at least based on predraft conversations, with many around the league believing the Cardinals would be the only legitimate option for him inside the top 40. Moving up here could fend off the Jets at No. 33. Is Arizona willing to miss out on a QB it likes by waiting?”
Fowler’s intel: “The Cardinals are considered the most natural suitor for Simpson in league circles. The Jets are a threat with the first pick of Day 2, but a few teams I’ve spoken to believe New York is looking toward 2027 to spend an early pick on a quarterback and could try to leverage the 33rd pick as Simpson trade bait if he’s there. Arizona seems to be gauging whether it needs to move up to get Simpson or whether he’ll be available with its second-round pick (No. 34).”
The Cardinals have been the one team outside of the Jets that has been linked to Simpson the most. It makes more sense for Simpson to play in Arizona compared to the Jets with Geno Smith back in New York.
Stay tuned as more NFL Draft rumors surface ahead of the first round on Thursday night.
The post ESPN projects Cardinals to leapfrog Jets for Ty Simpson with Round 1 trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.
