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

[Harry]

Insane trade

 

[Krangodnzr]

Here's more from Feldman's mock in The Athletic today. I expect it to be controversial both for the Cards passing on Bailey even though he's available, and for the Cards only getting picks #12 and #92 from Dallas in exchange for #3:

I'd want more than #92 to move to 12. I would want 12 and 20, but would probably have to throw in 35 for them to consider that...and then I'd still want #92 LOL

 

[Krangodnzr]

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I trade down with the Jets for a strong package of picks and still get Jermiyah Love at #16 which I think is closer to best value for a RB.

The Eagles offer a great package for #33 and #143. I end up with Blake Miller who fell out of Round one and Jacob Rodriguez who would be an immediate upgrade at ILB.

Caleb Banks can be the player the Cardinals hoped they were getting with Darius Robinson.

Cashius Howell is a steal at this point and could eventually play opposite Sweat.

Brailsford needs a bit of development but is a potential starter at center in the future.

Chris Johnson fell like a rock but he was one of the best corners in college football.

 

[Stout]

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I trade down with the Jets for a strong package of picks and still get Jermiyah Love at #16 which I think is closer to best value for a RB.

The Eagles offer a great package for #33 and #143. I end up with Blake Miller who fell out of Round one and Jacob Rodriguez who would be an immediate upgrade at ILB.

Caleb Banks can be the player the Cardinals hoped they were getting with Darius Robinson.

Cashius Howell is a steal at this point and could eventually play opposite Sweat.

Brailsford needs a bit of development but is a potential starter at center in the future.

Chris Johnson fell like a rock but he was one of the best corners in college football.

What idiots were you drafting against? Love, Miller, Banks, Allar all at incredible value.

 

[oaken1]

Here is a mock I executed earlier and it's kind of a realistic one:

1- Las Vegas Raiders select Fernando Mendoza.
2 - New York Jets select David Bailey
3 - Tennessee Titans select Arvel Reese

When Reese dropped to #3, I got a flurry of offers from quite a few teams, but I went with the Titans offer of #4 and #35 for #3 and #65 because I felt like I was going to get one of the players I liked at #4 regardless of what the Titans were going to do and getting the move up from #65 to #35 was a huge deal because I could hedge my bets and trade up into the first round if I really wanted to.


4 - Arizona Cardinals select Jermiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame. That's right @Stout and @Solar7, under this scenario, I'm absolutely going to take Love here because I know I've got a good shot at getting a starting RT in round two. I disagree that Mauigoa isn't the top guy, he absolutely is, but if I can get the next tier guy and Love, I'd definitel make that move

34- Arizona Cardinals select Max Iheanachor, RT, Arizona State. Big Max is very new to football, but very quickly became a standout so he has some ceiling that we haven't quite seen. He's a big guy who moves very well and is also a fairly sound technician which likely means he's very coachable. I think he probably doesn't start right away, but we should see him slide into the starting lineup early next season.

35- Arizona Cardinals select Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech. While Hunter is a NT, he's a people mover and should immediately fill a rotational role with Roy Lopez who basically got a rotational DL contract. Hunter is extremely strong and makes plays in both the run and pass games. He could become a key building block for the DL for years to come.

104- Arizona Cardinals select Brian Parker II, OL, Duke. I know @MadCardDisease also selected him in his mock, and I've had my eye on Parker. Parker is an OT with good movement skills and is an extremely intelligent player. I'm looking at him as a future center since Froholdt is getting a bit older and his play declined last year, but you could also look at Parker to start at guard as well. He offer positional flexibility and he's a solid bet to become at least an average starting OL.

143- Arizona Cardinals select Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU. The Cardinals absolutely need to find an off the ball LB, and I considered actually using #35 on a linebacker, but I value DL more so I waited. Elarms-Orr would be a great get at this point because he was very productive at both Cal and TCU, has good sideline to sideline range and is great in coverage. He should also be a plus special teamer.

183- Arizona Cardinals select Carson Beck, QB, Miami. At this point, Carson Beck is an extremely good value and it's hard to pass up. One of the big downsides to drafting a QB is that only one QB plays, and they don't contribute on special teams, so essentially QBs should either go early (they are playing) or late (backup). Beck obviously is well known and has an extensive resume. He's fallen apart in some big games, but does have some tools.

217- Arizona Cardinals select Vinny Anthony II, WR, Wisconsin. In round 7, teams are typically looking to draft special teams players, and that is exactly what I'm looking for with Vinny Anthony. Good special teams player and known to be a good blocker which is a requirement for WRs in the Shanahan/McVay offense.

Overall I was disappointed that I didn't come away with an Edge, but the issue I ran into was that after round two there just wasn't an Edge I liked enough to take. This is one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of taking Love is that you may miss out on higher value positions like Edge.

But Love and Big Max should bolster the offense, and Hunter should play quite a few snaps immediately on defense. Elarms-Orr has a shot to become a starting ILB down the road and Brian Parker could be the center of the future.

I like that. But instead of Hunter at 35..I would double down and draft an OG there...there are a few guys bordering the first round that would fit that pick and start for us on day 1...and drafting 2 o line would really help us out for the next few years.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I like that. But instead of Hunter at 35..I would double down and draft an OG there...there are a few guys bordering the first round that would fit that pick and start for us on day 1...and drafting 2 o line would really help us out for the next few years.

Bisontis was gone. There wasn't a good value guard at that point, and Hunter is a beast in the middle. Pairing Hunter and Nolen in the middle would be a tough matchup for a lot of teams down the road.

 

[stretchthefield]

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[Krangodnzr]

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That OL would be fun to watch..nasty and big.

TJ Parker isn't super quick, but he's good against the run and is a skilled pass rusher.

Nussmeier is a great gamble there.

 

[Harry]

I'd want more than #92 to move to 12. I would want 12 and 20, but would probably have to throw in 35 for them to consider that...and then I'd still want #92 LOL

No way, maybe the third rounder

 

[MadCardDisease]

2026 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team

Is there a better possible scenario for the Bengals in the 2026 NFL Draft than landing a pair of defensive building blocks in safety Caleb Downs and DT Peter Woods by the time Round 2 is over? Eric Edholm projects the ideal top two picks for all 32 teams.

www.nfl.com

NFC TEAMS​

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1: No. 3 overall: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Round 2: No. 34 overall: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

The depth at offensive tackle in this prospect class isn’t as strong as at edge rusher, but I still managed to land two top-35 players on my value board and also address two areas the Cardinals could upgrade. Bailey gives them the makings of a very good defensive front, and Lomu can vie for one of the OT spots, depending on where they want to play Paris Johnson Jr. They can take a provisional QB choice later and still circle back on other areas readily. This feels like an infrastructure draft for new head coach Mike LaFleur.

I would be very happy with these two picks

 

[Harry]

2026 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team

Is there a better possible scenario for the Bengals in the 2026 NFL Draft than landing a pair of defensive building blocks in safety Caleb Downs and DT Peter Woods by the time Round 2 is over? Eric Edholm projects the ideal top two picks for all 32 teams.

www.nfl.com

I would be very happy with these two picks

Me too, but Lomu won’t last that long.

 

[Adrian]

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SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
14h
NFL writer
@TheNickShook
sees the #AZCardinals drafting RB Jeremiyah Love with the 3rd overall pick.

"Arizona needs another true weapon at the position, and LaFleur and Co. find one with the incredibly talented, home run-hitting Love."

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Arvell Reese a heavy favorite to be the second overall pick in the draft

The Jets are widely expected to take Reese, the Ohio State linebacker, at the No. 2 spot.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[mel typer]

#3 too high of a pick for an o lineman.

After reading and thinking...I'm into Love here at #3. Trade down and lose out choices when you can get a star player. Drafting so much defense last year means it's offense this year. Cardinals not trying to be the 1985 bears here

 

[Krangodnzr]

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SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
14h
NFL writer
@TheNickShook
sees the #AZCardinals drafting RB Jeremiyah Love with the 3rd overall pick.

"Arizona needs another true weapon at the position, and LaFleur and Co. find one with the incredibly talented, home run-hitting Love."

I won't hate it.

Bailey is also going to be a fantastic player, but Love might be the one special player from this draft. For me it's just that a special RB isn't worth what it used to be worth.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Me too, but Lomu won’t last that long.

Harry how do you feel about the university of Washington product teirman? He may be the only offensive tackle left ???

 

[PDXChris]

It thats all they're offering, then go pound sand. These issue is the Cowboys don't have a 2nd round pick this year. We'll, if you buying and want to a top Edge, then you cant be picky

New Report Fuels Rumors Cowboys Trade Up In Draft For Specific Micah Parsons Replacement

The Dallas Cowboys have the assets to move up in the NFL Draft, and a new mock draft points to […]

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Denny Green Fan]

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SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
14h
NFL writer
@TheNickShook
sees the #AZCardinals drafting RB Jeremiyah Love with the 3rd overall pick.

"Arizona needs another true weapon at the position, and LaFleur and Co. find one with the incredibly talented, home run-hitting Love."

I will throw a brick at the tv

 

[oaken1]

It thats all they're offering, then go pound sand. These issue is the Cowboys don't have a 2nd round pick this year. We'll, if you buying and want to a top Edge, then you cant be picky

New Report Fuels Rumors Cowboys Trade Up In Draft For Specific Micah Parsons Replacement

The Dallas Cowboys have the assets to move up in the NFL Draft, and a new mock draft points to […]

sports.yahoo.com

Maybe if they give us 12, 20...their 2027 first round pick...and we give them 3 and 34?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

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[MadCardDisease]

Chad Reuter 5 round Mock Draft:

Five-round 2026 NFL mock draft: Four trades, two QBs send jolt through Round 1

He has the Cardinals selecting the following:

#1 RT Francis Mauigoa Miami
#2 DT Kayden McDonald OSU
#3 QB Garrett Nussmeier LSU
#4 Edge Joshua Josephs Tenn
#5 Edge Trey Moore Texas

 

[BullheadCardFan]

After Jeremiyah Love, long wait expected for the second running back drafted

Love is expected to be a Top 5 pick. The second running back may not go off the board in the Top 50.

www.nbcsports.com

The second running back off the board in most projections is Love’s Notre Dame teammate Jadarian Price, but few see him as a potential first-round pick, and it’s possible that neither he or any other running back will go in the second round, either.

Other top running back prospects include Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton of Penn State, Mike Washington of Arkansas, Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest, Jonah Coleman of Washington and Emmett Johnson of Nebraska. But none are viewed as elite prospects

 

[Beaver]

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[Adrian]

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SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
2h
NFL analyst
@PSchrags
has the #AZCardinals selecting LB/Edge Arvell Reese in his latest mock draft.

"Reese fills a need in Arizona as a potentially elite pass rusher, and I've heard rave reviews on what he can bring off the field from coaches."

 

[Harry]

Harry how do you feel about the university of Washington product teirman? He may be the only offensive tackle left ???

Sorry no notes on that guy, just don’t recall the name. They have a late rounnder or UDFA, Carver Willis. He shows some potential as a run blocker.