Ty Simpson Talks Possibility of NFL Draft Slide Out of Round 1 in Video Amid Cardinals Rumors

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson isn't concerning himself with the possibility of falling outside the first round in the 2026 NFL draft.

During an appearance Thursday on Up & Adams, Simpson made it clear that he expects to be a first-rounder and isn't sweating the idea that he could drop to Round 2:

"It doesn't enter my consciousness at all," Simpson said. "I think that if it does happen, then it was meant to happen, it was God's plan. But I came here thinking that I would get called on Thursday night and I firmly believe that. It's gonna be positive vibes and positive vibes only."

While Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is viewed as the surefire No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, it is far more uncertain whether another QB will come off the board in the first round.

If one is taken later in the first round, it will almost certainly be Simpson, who completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in his only season as Bama's starter.

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A couple of teams are rumored to have interest in Simpson, and they happen to be NFC West rivals.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Wednesday that it is "an open secret" in the NFL that the Los Angeles Rams like Simpson.

The Rams own the No. 13 overall pick in the draft, meaning they could take him there or possibly trade down and still secure Simpson.

Todd McShay of The Ringer projected Simpson as the Rams' pick at No. 13 overall in his latest mock draft.

Another team believed to be in the mix for Simpson is the Arizona Cardinals, who have no long-term answer at quarterback with journeyman veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew currently topping their depth chart.

This week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Cardinals and New York Jets are the two teams believed to have the most interest in Simpson.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Peter Schrager both projected Arizona to trade back up into the first round from No. 34 in order to draft Simpson.

The BR NFL Scouting Department also predicted in its final mock that the Cardinals will land Simpson, but it has him falling outside the first round to No. 34.

While Simpson going in the first round is far from a sure thing, the odds may be in his favor if there are indeed multiple teams trying to position themselves to take him.