Arizona Cardinals GM offers big clues on Ty Simpson and the NFL draft

When NFL general managers hold press conferences, they are rarely an exercise in transparency. These sessions are mandated to be held at least twice per year, and although most decision-makers meet with assembled reporters more often, they still keep key material close to the chest. Gleaning information requires reading between the lines.

But when Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort spoke on Thursday, April 16, the lines were wider and more transparent than normal. Throughout the course of a 32-minute session, he poured kerosene on the notion that the Cardinals are pursuing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. For context, this has become one of the draft season’s hottest rumors.

“There is a feeling around the league that the Cardinals certainly have some level of interest in Ty Simpson,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Similarly, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said, “I believe firmly (Simpson) is going to be a Cardinal. " This was the backdrop for Ossenfort’s press conference, in which he had repeated opportunities to discuss the quarterback position.

And each time, his answers only added to the notion that the Cardinals have already identified their solution — which would likely occur either at pick No. 34 or with a trade into the back end of the first round. Early on, Ossenfort was asked which traits he looks for in a quarterback.