Ty Simpson declares for the 2026 NFL draft

[az jam]

It's hard to judge how a college qb will do in the NFL. Now with the transfer portal and NIL money it becomes even harder as the qbs are playing in more than one system with different set of OL and WRs, etc. It must be a very tough job now to be a pro scout for an NFL team.

 

[Harry]

It's hard to judge how a college qb will do in the NFL. Now with the transfer portal and NIL money it becomes even harder as the qbs are playing in more than one system with different set of OL and WRs, etc. It must be a very tough job now to be a pro scout for an NFL team.

Easily the toughest position to accurately assess. It’s only fair to say I’m one of the guys who didn’t like Rodgers.

 

[Goldfield]

Easily the toughest position to accurately assess. It’s only fair to say I’m one of the guys who didn’t like Rodgers.

I still don’t like him lol

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

For me, this brings up the question of is Mendoza that good or does being surrounded by superior talent allow him to look better than he is. That is essentially what we saw during Murray's time at Oklahoma. The surrounding talent elevated the QB, not the other way around. Take into account how often the Indiana defense gave their offense short fields and you could make an argument that their defense had a lot to do with the offense's success. Mendoza was sacked just 18 times during the regular season which leads one to believe that his Oline did a good job of giving him time to go through his progressions.

Here is a link which is pretty interesting in terms of how college teams ranked in efficiencies. It appears to be quite comprehensive in terms of every facet of the game.

BCF Toys FEI ratings


Just found this and it's quite interesting:

Fernando Mendoza’s 2025 stat line needs context
On paper, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza put up a big year: 2,980 passing yards, 33 passing TDs, 6 INTs, plus 6 rushing TDs.
But when you dig into who those numbers came against, the story changes.

Where the numbers exploded (subpar competition):
Kennesaw State: 245 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
Indiana State (FCS): 270 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT
Illinois: 267 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT
Michigan State: 332 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
Wisconsin: 299 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT

That is where the “highlight reel QB” narrative gets built.
What happened when the opponents got real (ranked, elite, or top-tier defenses):
at Iowa (No. 11 Indiana won 20-15): 233 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
at Oregon (vs No. 3): 215 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
at Penn State (27-24 nail-biter): 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Big Ten title vs Ohio State (vs No. 3): 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Across those four tougher games, Mendoza had 5 passing TDs and 4 INTs.

Against everyone else, he piled up the clean, efficient box scores.
Bottom line: Mendoza is good, but the 2025 production is inflated.
He feasted on weaker opponents, and when the matchup tightened up, he stopped looking like a stats machine and started looking like a “survive and advance” quarterback.

Indiana never has and probably never will have superior talent.
They have talent but not elite talent.

 

[GatorAZ]

If he throws well at Pro Day he’s top 5 now.

More interested in his 40 and interviews. After drafting Kyler I want him grilled on his dad’s involvement, work ethic and if he’s entitled.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The thing that's hard to quantify is the QBs ability to process.

With all things being similar talent wise, that's the difference maker. A QB that can read a pre snap defense and adjust quickly on the fly to changes is likely going to be a successful QB.

That's something we don't know. Is he a 1read thrower or does he see the defense and go to the right option.

If Simpson does that, take him.

 

[Harry]

The thing that's hard to quantify is the QBs ability to process.

With all things being similar talent wise, that's the difference maker. A QB that can read a pre snap defense and adjust quickly on the fly to changes is likely going to be a successful QB.

That's something we don't know. Is he a 1read thrower or does he see the defense and go to the right option.

If Simpson does that, take him.

He does that quite well especially compared to other college QBs. His dad being a coach likely drilled that into him. You can see how quickly he identifies a blitz and a coverage mismatch. I think the Bama offense was weaker than it typically is and he often overcame that. He needs to sit a year and be well mentored. That would not be by Murray. He’ll then likely go through a learning year as a starter, even if surrounded by talent. After that maybe they’ve got something. I’m not endorsing this pick, but if he shows well someone will want him. The Cards did scout him intensely, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they took him.

 

[oaken1]

The thing that's hard to quantify is the QBs ability to process.

With all things being similar talent wise, that's the difference maker. A QB that can read a pre snap defense and adjust quickly on the fly to changes is likely going to be a successful QB.

That's something we don't know. Is he a 1read thrower or does he see the defense and go to the right option.

If Simpson does that, take him.

there is a difference between talent and skills. Talent is innate, skills are learned.
a QB can learn to go through his progressions... but talent allows the game to slow down and his mind to accurately process what he is seeing.

its a huge difference and a big reason why evaluating QB is so difficult. Guys are slower in college...so you see a QB go through his progression, then make the right pass....good.
but if he just used a skill..it will work in college but not so well in the NFL, as it all happens faster,...and dudes brain may not process it fast enough for him to make the right read.
Thats a big reason why number of starts is important...if a guy starts earlier...like as a freshman, and has some success...it shows that his talent allowed him to adjust to the speed jump from HS to college quickly...and may do so at the next level as well....plus the experience factor as well of course.

point is...it is very difficult to see if a guy really is talented,...or if he has just developed some skills...because just having developed skills is not going to help him as much when he gets to the pro level...he needs that innate talent to go along with the developed skills.

on the other hand...there might be a guy at Lower Dominion Jesuit Presbetyrian College...that hasnt had the coaching to develop the skills....but he has shown some success because he has the raw talent to play the position

 

[vince56]

Like it or not this is a QB driven league. Its either this kid or Moore, whoever is still available at 3. Blemishes and all this is the modern NFL. I don't see how we don't draft a QB at #3. College football is just not the minor league it used to be and we all suffer for it.

 

[iLLmatiC]

We’re due for a player that everyone hates draft night actually turn out to be a good player.

Been quite the opposite the past few years sans Paris Johnson.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns have had that type of player!

IIRC, the fans booed the Majerle pick and laughed at the Hornacek selection.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

He does that quite well especially compared to other college QBs. His dad being a coach likely drilled that into him. You can see how quickly he identifies a blitz and a coverage mismatch. I think the Bama offense was weaker than it typically is and he often overcame that. He needs to sit a year and be well mentored. That would not be by Murray. He’ll then likely go through a learning year as a starter, even if surrounded by talent. After that maybe they’ve got something. I’m not endorsing this pick, but if he shows well someone will want him. The Cards did scout him intensely, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they took him.

How does Moore compare here?

 

[Gandhi]

He needs to sit a year and be well mentored.

Like any other rookie quarterback, but it is not going to happen. I have said it before, best case scenario is that Brissett gets to play about half the season, and that the team is still above water at that point.

 

[Krangodnzr]

IIRC, the fans booed the Majerle pick and laughed at the Hornacek selection.

Suns fans definitely hated the Nash pick and were crazy about Mario Bennett.

 

[az jam]

QB standings in the draft will change based on the Senior Bowl, Combine and private workouts.

 

[Stout]

QB standings in the draft will change based on the Senior Bowl, Combine and private workouts.

True, but they shouldn't. Not unless actual blockbuster news about something really bad comes out, or it turns out a 6'3 kid is like 5'9. The play on the field is what matters.

 

[PJ1]

Hope they just stay away from Simpson.

 

[Fitz4Ever]

If they trade Burrow, Cardinals should offer up three first round-picks to buy him.

Simpson is obviously a difficult evaluation, but I do think it is a wrong argument to say that he could not beat out Jalen Milroe (not that you did, F4E). Milroe was the surefire starter when Simpson came in, and age and experience just matter a lot in college. Milroe had won an SEC championship, and the offense was built around him. In an NIL-world, I see it as a major positive that Simpson stayed at Alabama even though he was behind Milroe.

Joe Burrow was a backup for three years because he couldn’t beat out J.T. Barrett and Dwayne Haskins. Burrow ended up transferring to LSU. Is Burrow a bad QB?

I was just saying I see Simpson going to a QB needy team in the 10-15 range. I dont think anyone is going to trade up and take him top 5...even the Browns would be reaching at 6 IMO.

 

[Harry]

there is a difference between talent and skills. Talent is innate, skills are learned.
a QB can learn to go through his progressions... but talent allows the game to slow down and his mind to accurately process what he is seeing.

its a huge difference and a big reason why evaluating QB is so difficult. Guys are slower in college...so you see a QB go through his progression, then make the right pass....good.
but if he just used a skill..it will work in college but not so well in the NFL, as it all happens faster,...and dudes brain may not process it fast enough for him to make the right read.
Thats a big reason why number of starts is important...if a guy starts earlier...like as a freshman, and has some success...it shows that his talent allowed him to adjust to the speed jump from HS to college quickly...and may do so at the next level as well....plus the experience factor as well of course.

point is...it is very difficult to see if a guy really is talented,...or if he has just developed some skills...because just having developed skills is not going to help him as much when he gets to the pro level...he needs that innate talent to go along with the developed skills.

on the other hand...there might be a guy at Lower Dominion Jesuit Presbetyrian College...that hasnt had the coaching to develop the skills....but he has shown some success because he has the raw talent to play the position

Based on the competition pass rushers I’ve seen, he processes quickly.

 

[TheCardFan]

Scouting report summary for Ty Simpson

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[Ronin]

Suns fans definitely hated the Nash pick and were crazy about Mario Bennett.

They didn’t like his return in free agency either.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I was just saying I see Simpson going to a QB needy team in the 10-15 range. I dont think anyone is going to trade up and take him top 5...even the Browns would be reaching at 6 IMO.

They could be a possibility at 28…..if we want Simpson we either have to hope he gets past the rams twice….Steelers…and browns…I would love Francis mauigila and Simpson ….but if the cards want Simpson they probably have to take the young man at 3….sucks but I wouldn’t be pissed given the circumstances……would be nice to add a quarterback guru and play caller….then add Simpson..Francis…..breece hall to what we already have…ticket sales would rise and bidwill would sell the hell out of Simpson jerseys….exciting times ….

 

[CardNots]

I

IIRC, the fans booed the Majerle pick and laughed at the Hornacek selection.

I distinctly remember the famous line from Cotton, “You will regret the day you booed Dan Majerle”.

 

[Gandhi]

They could be a possibility at 28…..if we want Simpson we either have to hope he gets past the rams twice….Steelers…and browns…

If they want him they should take him at #3, and don't think twice about it. If you truly think he can become your franchise quarterback it is easily worth that pick.

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

We’re due for a player that everyone hates draft night actually turn out to be a good player.

What would be worse is everyone thinking he's the worst QB in the draft, then the Cardinals pass on him & he ends up being great lol.