2026 Mock Drafts Thread. It’s that time of year again.

[PDXChris]

Probably the same way James Conner had 1500 yards in 2024 behind the same line. But easier.

Not the same line at all.
2024
OL Coach Klayton Adams
RT Jonah Williams/Kelvin Beachum (34 years old)
RG Hernandez/Colon/Adams (things started to break down after Hernandez went down)
C Froholdt (28 years old)
LG Brown
LT PJJ/Kelvin Beachum

2026
OL Coach Justin Frye - Massive downgrade
RT Kelvin Beachum (36 years old) - Ageing before our eyes exponentially
RG Adams - Zero improvement
C Froholdt (30 years old) - Nice story but regressing in real time
LG Gaines? Giant hole
LT PJJ - cannot finish season healthy.

This OL is scary bad now in part to non-development of the young guys and the aging of the old guys. PJJ is the only one to play well and he missed the ending to the last two seasons.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Yep and we need to give lafleur a fighting chance and it starts up front…..I take Simpson before I take love at 3

 

[BritCard]

It has only happened one time by a Cardinal as far as I can tell. Really high bar being set here.

Sure, but that's the bar if you take RB at 3. Jahmyr Gibbs has done it, and that should be the bar for Love.

 

[BritCard]

Sonny Styles isn't changing anyone's defense.

Why do you think that? Have you watched him play or just look at highlights?

He has little change of direction, doesn't read plays well, is not a pass rusher, and is a safety playing LB in college.

An undersized LB with not great instincts doesn't sound like a difference maker to me.
Maybe he'll prove me wrong but I'm very skeptical.

How is 6'4" and 243lb "undersized"?

None of that is accurate and he had the same number of missed tackles in run defense as the number on his shirt (0). And he's still only 21.

 

[BritCard]

Not the same line at all.
2024
OL Coach Klayton Adams
RT Jonah Williams/Kelvin Beachum (34 years old)
RG Hernandez/Colon/Adams (things started to break down after Hernandez went down)
C Froholdt (28 years old)
LG Brown
LT PJJ/Kelvin Beachum

2026
OL Coach Justin Frye - Massive downgrade
RT Kelvin Beachum (36 years old) - Ageing before our eyes exponentially
RG Adams - Zero improvement
C Froholdt (30 years old) - Nice story but regressing in real time
LG Gaines? Giant hole
LT PJJ - cannot finish season healthy.

This OL is scary bad now in part to non-development of the young guys and the aging of the old guys. PJJ is the only one to play well and he missed the ending to the last two seasons.

It's the same line. You just missed guys that were out with injury last year. If anything the line will be better.

 

[BritCard]

Yep and we need to give lafleur a fighting chance and it starts up front…..I take Simpson before I take love at 3

JB + Love >>> Simpson and Conner in all aspects.

Sticking ML with Simpson is crippling him, not giving him a fighting chance.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

JB + Love >>> Simpson and Conner in all aspects.

Sticking ML with Simpson is crippling him, not giving him a fighting chance.

lol like when the raiders selected the running back last year?

 

[oaken1]

lol like when the raiders selected the running back last year?

comparing Redbirds to Raiders is like comparing teenaged girls at an allanis Morriset concert...knowing that each is broken in their own way and the deciding factor may be whether or not they went to see Morrisey at the Cow Palace last year or if they sold out and saw Taylor Swift with their cousins from Boise.
we know there are worlds of incomprehensible trauma driven drama that we will never understand...and in the end we just hope they dress normal and try to act human while we have company.
But they cant fairly be compared. Thats just so insensitive.

 

[BritCard]

Which Drew Allar is the real Drew Allar?

Because this time last year I remember a lot of talk about if Allar could come out last year he would go #1 and was better than Cam Ward.

This year, crickets, and he's slated to go 3rd or later.

My understanding is that this year he has a bad HC that was fired mid season and was injured. But nobody seems to be allowing for that.

Wondering which Allar is the real one, or if it's neither.

 

[Harry]

Which Drew Allar is the real Drew Allar?

Because this time last year I remember a lot of talk about if Allar could come out last year he would go #1 and was better than Cam Ward.

This year, crickets, and he's slated to go 3rd or later.

My understanding is that this year he has a bad HC that was fired mid season and was injured. But nobody seems to be allowing for that.

Wondering which Allar is the real one, or if it's neither.

Don’t think many had Allar that high after a few games. There’s always been serious question about his ability to stay cool under fire. He’s a good athlete with a decent arm. He’s technically sound. However, you can’t be a winning NFL QB without poise. That’s one of Mendoza’s best traits.

 

[Stout]

Which Drew Allar is the real Drew Allar?

Because this time last year I remember a lot of talk about if Allar could come out last year he would go #1 and was better than Cam Ward.

This year, crickets, and he's slated to go 3rd or later.

My understanding is that this year he has a bad HC that was fired mid season and was injured. But nobody seems to be allowing for that.

Wondering which Allar is the real one, or if it's neither.

I definitely allow for that. My main two questions would be injury status and if he can come back from the QB killer Franklin's influence. I want him in the 3rd as part of my plan. Sign Flacco, draft Allar in the 3rd, and let's roll. At least it will be entertaining.

 

[Stout]

Don’t think many had Allar that high after a few games. There’s always been serious question about his ability to stay cool under fire. He’s a good athlete with a decent arm. He’s technically sound. However, you can’t be a winning NFL QB without poise. That’s one of Mendoza’s best traits.

Allar was seen as a 1st rounder, but not necessarily the #1 overall, no.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Rueben Bain: No teams have brought up my arm length in meetings

Productive college players get picked apart in the pre-draft process for various reasons, including things like the size of their hands and the length of their arms.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[BritCard]

There's lots of ways we can go at 3 and none of them are really wrong, but adk yourself this.

Wouldn't it be more fun as a fan, and get more attention for the Cards, to have Jeremiah Love at RB?

Some of the most fun I've had watching any player was prime David Johnson. If we're going to suck, why not have some fun watching?

Plus he'd really open up this offense for everyone.

 

[Cardiac]

Im against

There's lots of ways we can go at 3 and none of them are really wrong, but adk yourself this.

Wouldn't it be more fun as a fan, and get more attention for the Cards, to have Jeremiah Love at QB?

Some of the most fun I've had watching any player was prime David Johnson. If we're going to suck, why not have some fun watching?

Plus he'd really open up this offense for everyone.

I'm typically against drafting a player and then changing his position.

 

[Krangodnzr]

There's lots of ways we can go at 3 and none of them are really wrong, but adk yourself this.

Wouldn't it be more fun as a fan, and get more attention for the Cards, to have Jeremiah Love at QB?

Some of the most fun I've had watching any player was prime David Johnson. If we're going to suck, why not have some fun watching?

Plus he'd really open up this offense for everyone.

I'm kind of with you here, but I think overlooking the boring for the exciting is where some GMs make big mistakes.

Probably the best move is to continue to build the OL first and foremost. Second best move is to have a killer pass rush, so David Bailey is really interesting.

 

[oaken1]

There's lots of ways we can go at 3 and none of them are really wrong, but adk yourself this.

Wouldn't it be more fun as a fan, and get more attention for the Cards, to have Jeremiah Love at QB?

Some of the most fun I've had watching any player was prime David Johnson. If we're going to suck, why not have some fun watching?

Plus he'd really open up this offense for everyone.

Can he read a defense and deliver the pass to the wideouts?

 

[Harry]

Allar was seen as a 1st rounder, but not necessarily the #1 overall, no.

No offense, by whom?

 

[BritCard]

I'm kind of with you here, but I think overlooking the boring for the exciting is where some GMs make big mistakes.

Probably the best move is to continue to build the OL first and foremost. Second best move is to have a killer pass rush, so David Bailey is really interesting.

We tried the boring roster building stuff and it's got us nowhere. I'm leaning towards screw it and just be entertained. It can't be any worse.

 

[BritCard]

No offense, by whom?

There was a whole bunch of analyst talk online last year that Allar would be the first QB off the board if he declared. It's not hard to find.

And as soon as he said he was remaining he was odds on favorite to go #1 in 2026 with sports books.

 

[Stout]

No offense, by whom?

You're asking for a reference from, what, two years ago? I don't know. I remember the chatter. Allar could have been a 1st round pick but he chose to return to school. An awful idea, as it happened.

 

[outcent13]

I believe Drew Allar is gonna go way earlier than people think. Size, arm and production prior to last years injury. I see some similarities to Josh Allen, who had a sub 60% completion percentage, when he came out and he was drafted 7th overall. In a year with no QBs outside Mendoza I can see some team taking him early. Wouldn’t even mind if we did in the second.

 

[oaken1]

I believe Drew Allar is gonna go way earlier than people think. Size, arm and production prior to last years injury. I see some similarities to Josh Allen, who had a sub 60% completion percentage, when he came out and he was drafted 7th overall. In a year with no QBs outside Mendoza I can see some team taking him early. Wouldn’t even mind if we did in the second.

This.
I would jump all over Allar at 34.

 

[DVontel]

I believe Drew Allar is gonna go way earlier than people think. Size, arm and production prior to last years injury. I see some similarities to Josh Allen, who had a sub 60% completion percentage, when he came out and he was drafted 7th overall. In a year with no QBs outside Mendoza I can see some team taking him early. Wouldn’t even mind if we did in the second.

Difference is Allar had significantly better talent around him than Josh Allen did at Wyoming.

 

[Stout]

This.
I would jump all over Allar at 34.

Okay, you talked me into it lol