🏈 Cardinals NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
After cutting Kyler Murray and pivoting to Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew at quarterback, the Arizona Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick and face a pivotal decision between adding a franchise-altering defender or addressing a leaky offensive line that still has questions at right tackle.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Cardinals' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Arizona will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Cardinals draft picks 2026
See where the Cardinals rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 3 |
| 2 | No. 34 |
| 3 | No. 65 |
| 4 | No. 104 |
| 5 | No. 143 |
| 6 | No. 183 |
| 7 | No. 217 |
🆘 Cardinals team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: EDGE, OL, QB, DL, CB
- Key additions: Gardner Minshew (QB), Isaac Seumalo (OG), Tyler Allgeier (RB), Kendrick Bourne (WR), Elijah Wilkinson (OG)
- Key departures: Kyler Murray (QB, Vikings), Dalvin Tomlinson (DL, Chargers), Jalen Thompson (S, Cowboys), Calais Campbell (DL), Evan Brown (OG, Texans)
Josh Sweat was the lone player to generate more than seven sacks on this defense a season ago, and with Campbell still unsigned as a free agent, the pass rush desperately needs more potency. The offensive line got a boost with Seumalo's signing but still has a question at right tackle opposite Paris Johnson Jr. Quarterback looms long-term with Brissett and Minshew serving as bridges, and Arizona could target a developmental prospect later in the draft.
🏈 Cardinals draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Cardinals' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 3 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech | 7.30 | There's plenty of buzz that Bailey could be the pick at No. 2, but if he's not, Monti Ossenfort will likely decide between taking him or an offensive lineman - Bailey's scary first step and relentless motor make him the ideal choice |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami | 7.25 | If the Cardinals want a high-floor player at a premium position, Mauigoa is a mammoth who creates tons of movement in the run game and has the versatility to play guard or tackle |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State | 7.40 | Reese has the highest upside of any player in the class, and if he falls to No. 3, Arizona gets a joker defender with the athleticism to rush the passer, set the edge, and spy quarterbacks |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Cardinals mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Cardinals' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect Arizona to draft at No. 3:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami |
| Charles McDonald (Yahoo) | Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia |
The experts are split between defense and offensive line for Arizona at No. 3. Ohio State's Arvell Reese appears twice (Kiper and Renner), while Brugler and McDonald both project an offensive lineman - either Miami's Francis Mauigoa or Georgia's Monroe Freeling. Reuter aligns with Paul's dream pick in David Bailey, and McShay has Arizona taking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 3.
🔮 Cardinals draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 3: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Pro comparison: Nik Bonitto
- Measurables: 6'4" | 251 lbs | 22 years old | RAS: 9.65
There's plenty of buzz that David Bailey could be the pick at No. 2, but if he's not, Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort will likely decide between taking him or an offensive lineman. Bailey is a twitched-up pass rusher with a scary first step who's capable of converting speed to power. And he plays with a relentless motor, both when hunting QBs or attacking the run. The former five-star recruit was No. 2 in the country in pressures this past season (81).
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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