In each of the last two offseasons, Miami and Mario Cristobal have signed a Transfer Portal quarterback who initially entered the NFL Draft. So, they looked to do the same with Ty Simpson, throwing a massive $6.5 million offer at the former Alabama QB to get him to withdraw from the draft and enter the portal. Only this time, they couldn’t sway him.
On Tuesday, Simpson signed the paperwork to officially enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Simpson has reportedly received first-round evaluations from NFL decision-makers, but with just 15 career starts, he’s far from a sure thing. Yet, he’s passing up Miami’s deal to start his professional career, and now with Sam Leavitt signed to LSU and Simpson in the league, the Hurricanes don’t have an obvious option to replace Carson Beck.
Yet, just because the option isn’t obvious, doesn’t mean it doesn’t, or won’t, exist.
Miami could turn the transfer portal on its head with another massive offer
Miami’s offer to Simpson can serve two purposes. The intended purpose was to land the program its next proven veteran quarterback and compete for another championship in 2026. The ancillary effect, though, is that now the other top quarterbacks in the country and in the Transfer Portal now know how much money Miami is willing to shell out to find an answer at the most important position.
Yes, almost all of those players in the portal have already committed. The top remaining uncommitted quarterback in the portal is USC transfer Husan Longstreet, a 2025 five-star who spent the year redshirting behind Jayden Maiava. As an unproven developmental project, Longstreet would certainly be out of Cristobal’s comfort zone. But we’ve already learned that just because players are committed, it doesn’t mean they’re locked in.
There have been more than a few transfer portal flips in this year’s portal window, including at quarterback with Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey flipping from Nebraska to Kentucky before putting pen to paper. Even the players who do sign on the dotted line aren’t necessarily locked in.
Revenue-sharing contracts are legally binding, but just last offseason, Miami managed to pluck Xavier Lucas off Wisconsin’s roster. Miami is facing a lawsuit from Wisconsin for tampering, but Lucas transferred outside the transfer portal window and was allowed to play this season.
We’ve also seen Washington quarterback Demond Williams attempt to breach his contract with Washington. He ultimately returned to the Huskies, but entered the transfer portal after signing and looked to be LSU’s top target momentarily. Others will be emboldened to challenge their current school in court if there’s a $6.5 million carrot dangling down in Coral Gables.
Miami will have to get creative to land potential QB targets
There aren’t many options. Florida transfer DJ Lagway has committed to Baylor, and Robert Griffin III has reported that he’s signing, but it has yet to be confirmed. NC State quarterback and Miami native CJ Bailey has announced his return to NC State, but the Canes could certainly outbid the Wolfpack. And they may need to pay that premium, considering the state of Miami’s QB room behind Beck.
Miami’s lackluster in-house options are a result of a decreased emphasis on high school quarterback recruiting under Cristobal. A successful philosophy that has suddenly left the Hurricanes in a difficult spot. A desperate spot. The solution might be expensive, both in the portal and in court, but if it nets the program another top veteran quarterback, it’ll be well worth it.