What Cardinals not naming QB starter in 2026 means ahead of NFL Draft
Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort during a pre-draft news conference on April 16, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe. GLENDALE – A week away from the NFL draft and Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur spoke to the media on Thursday, giving some clarity towards the franchise’s plan. The biggest story entering the draft for Arizona isn’t even the third overall pick, it’s whether Ossenfort will trade back into the first round to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
The Cardinals have heavy interest in Simpson, reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and it could make a trade up from 34th overall into the first round. Ossenfort is known for keeping his agenda close to his chest, but he did confirm one thing on Thursday: No QB starter has been named. Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort during a pre-draft news conference on April 16, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe.
Ossenfort assessing the quarterback situation ahead of draft: “We’re not really naming anybody, and we’ll see how that room looks by the time we get [to] August. That’s where we are right now. And I think that with every position that we have, we’re going to look to add competition.
Whether that’s the draft, whether that’s after the draft, there’s [a] player acquisition period that never ends. “We’re going to always look to improve every room no matter what it is. So that’s where we are right now.
Is that how it looks going into training camp? I don’t know. We’ll see.