Cardinals nab QB, pass rusher in 1st round of Field Yates’ mock draft

The Arizona Cardinals continue to be a team to watch when it comes to potentially selecting a quarterback this NFL Draft.

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is seemingly off the board with the Las Vegas Raiders expected to take the top quarterback prospect with the No. 1 overall pick.

But there’s still a handful of names the Cardinals could take a chance on later on in the draft, one of which ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky proclaimed as the best quarterback this draft.

In ESPN analyst Field Yates’ two-round mock draft published Tuesday, Arizona not only takes that chance, but does so later on in the first round.

After taking Ohio State linebacker hybrid Arvell Reese with the No. 3 overall pick, Arizona gets back in the first-round mix in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. The deal netted the Cardinals the No. 26 overall pick in exchange for Nos. 34 and 65 in 2026, plus a 2027 third-rounder.

The Cardinals then used the first-round pick on Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

Arizona can execute its own version of what the Giants accomplished in 2025. New York landed edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall before trading up to take quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25. After taking Arvell Reese up top, the Cardinals can land the clear-cut second-best quarterback in this class here.

Through the early part of the 2025 season, Simpson stood out with his ability to navigate the pocket and throw with accuracy and power when he can set his feet. With Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew on Arizona’s depth chart, the team can bring Simpson along methodically. All 15 of his collegiate starts came this past season.

While opting for Reese has its concerns regarding his best fit positionally, landing one of the top pass rushers in the draft would give Arizona an automatic boost at a spot that was largely quiet outside of Josh Sweat’s career year.

Coming back around and nabbing a potential franchise option at quarterback would check another box, albeit in pencil rather than pen.

Simpson is looked at by many as the second-ranked quarterback prospect this draft. Beyond him, things get murky with Carson Beck, Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier the next tier down.

Sacrificing some added draft capital isn’t an easy sell, especially with other roster holes to address and the fact Arizona’s quarterbacks room is filled up, but how much leash does general manager Monti Ossenfort have left?

After posting a 15-36 mark in three seasons and seeing former head coach Jonathan Gannon and ex-franchise quarterback Kyler Murray walk out the door, he doesn’t have much runway left if the losing continues.

Getting a potential heir apparent to Arizona’s quarterback situation a year early isn’t the worst idea as long as there’s a concerted plan forward.

If anything, Simpson can get a good look at what the NFL requires behind journeymen signal callers Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Brissett at least has some time as a mentor, working alongside New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in 2024.

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