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

[Krangodnzr]

Option 1: trade down three times for firsts next season. Load up to get your QBOF in 2027.

Option 2: bite the bullet and take either love or downs. Go for talent. Trade Buddha and let Thompson go.

Option 3: Bailey and hope he’s not just a situation player.

Option 4: take and er talented OT with a premium pick and hope he’s good enough to be a talented bookend to PJJ for a decade.

I agree with every point here, but not necessarily in any order. Any of these options make sense.

I can't remember which GM said this but he said you can never really go wrong with OL. If they don't hit, they are usually at least a solid player. As much consternation as this board has had with the PJJ selection, he's still one of the best OL the Arizona Cardinals have ever had, and he still has ceiling because we have seen stretches of elite (or near) play.

I'm intrigued by Love, but the issue is if the OL isn't fixed, he's not likely to be impactful. Look at Jeanty with the Raiders. I'm not as crazy about taking Downs high. Safety just tends to be like TE where some of the better safeties were taken later. Just like TE, draft a guy in the 4th round every other year and you'll be fine.

The Seahawks (and the Eagles) have shown just how valuable it is to have like 8 good front seven players. Send them in waves. This idea leads me to value taking Bailey high.

 

[some dumb guy]

Welcome to last week

I know...I've been busy...

 

[oaken1]

What the hell is going on here? Stout's on a Derp rampage, oaken1 went on a turd rampage. You're both respected posters on this forum. Look what the cardinals have done to you guys...
Step away from the keyboard...stand up, stretch, touch your toes, scratch your butt....whatever it takes...now, let's try this again

POSTERITY ALERT!

Twenty years on this board...and the first time someone referred to The Oaken1 as a "Respected Poster"...its some dumb guy......

 

[oaken1]

Bain has the best hands of the group, he's the safest NFL prospect.

he is,... if you want Marcus Golden... but you dont draft Markus Golden in the top 5

 

[BritCard]

he is,... if you want Marcus Golden... but you dont draft Markus Golden in the top 5

Nah man, he's nothing like Golden. Golden didn't have the bend or technique that Bain has.

If you want an NFL comp in size, build and skills he's much more like Dwight Freeney as a ceiling and Brandon Graham as a floor. While I like Bain for talent and think he can he great, the reason I choose him over others is he never takes a play off. He plays hard every snap. This defense needs those kinds of players.

In any other draft Bain probably goes late single digits or early teens, but then all the other players projected top 10 go further back than that. It's not a fantastic class and considering nobody is going to want to move up Bain is the best of available options at #3 if factoring in positional value.

The best actual players after Mendoza are probably Downs and Styles but I don't see those positions being drafted at #3.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Report: A push is coming to allow draft picks to be traded up to five years out

One of the potential changes to the rules for 2026 could include a change to the limits on trading draft picks.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Nah man, he's nothing like Golden. Golden didn't have the bend or technique that Bain has.

If you want an NFL comp in size, build and skills he's much more like Dwight Freeney as a ceiling and Brandon Graham as a floor. While I like Bain for talent and think he can he great, the reason I choose him over others is he never takes a play off. He plays hard every snap. This defense needs those kinds of players.

In any other draft Bain probably goes late single digits or early teens, but then all the other players projected top 10 go further back than that. It's not a fantastic class and considering nobody is going to want to move up Bain is the best of available options at #3 if factoring in positional value.

The best actual players after Mendoza are probably Downs and Styles but I don't see those positions being drafted at #3.

Johnny venerable said last night it’s gonna be an offensive tackle at 3…”book it”…. That’s what they are hearing and after watching the Super Bowl it better be

 

[BritCard]

Johnny venerable said last night it’s gonna be an offensive tackle at 3…”book it”…. That’s what they are hearing and after watching the Super Bowl it better be

It's way too far out for that. Plus they have no idea what the new staff might ask for.

 

[Harry]

Nah man, he's nothing like Golden. Golden didn't have the bend or technique that Bain has.

If you want an NFL comp in size, build and skills he's much more like Dwight Freeney as a ceiling and Brandon Graham as a floor. While I like Bain for talent and think he can he great, the reason I choose him over others is he never takes a play off. He plays hard every snap. This defense needs those kinds of players.

In any other draft Bain probably goes late single digits or early teens, but then all the other players projected top 10 go further back than that. It's not a fantastic class and considering nobody is going to want to move up Bain is the best of available options at #3 if factoring in positional value.

The best actual players after Mendoza are probably Downs and Styles but I don't see those positions being drafted at #3.

I agree he’s light years ahead of Golden. Most people seem to think he ends up inside where the arm length is not such an issue. I think he goes top 10. The Cards could make a worse pick. However with this many needs and a good top 10 I still trade down if I can pick up a second and stay top 10.

 

[Harry]

Report: A push is coming to allow draft picks to be traded up to five years out

One of the potential changes to the rules for 2026 could include a change to the limits on trading draft picks.

www.nbcsports.com

Terrible idea, the weak stay weak.

 

[BritCard]

I agree he’s light years ahead of Golden. Most people seem to think he ends up inside where the arm length is not such an issue. I think he goes top 10. The Cards could make a worse pick. However with this many needs and a good top 10 I still trade down if I can pick up a second and stay top 10.

Why would anyone trade up?

I don't think there's going to be an opportunity to trade down. Have to plan on picking at 3.

 

[BritCard]

While watching Bain I really like Akheem Mesidor too, but he's exactly one year older than BJ Ojulari and Ojulari has been in the league 3 years.

(This is also a reason I think fans are too down on Beej, whose age combined with a bad knee injury has held him back. Still super young)

 

[Harry]

While watching Bain I really like Akheem Mesidor too, but he's exactly one year older than BJ Ojulari and Ojulari has been in the league 3 years.

(This is also a reason I think fans are too down on Beej, whose age combined with a bad knee injury has held him back. Still super young)

I have Mesidor on my round 2 consideration list, but not at the top. Trade ups are inthe eye of the buyer. We’ll see, just speculating at this point.

 

[Sparky16]

Abdul Carter went 3 last year with 23 college sacks. Bain has 20.5.

Kayvon Thibodeaux went 5 with 19. Aidan Hutchinson went 2nd with 18 over 4 years.

Yeah pressure against college level tackles is hit/miss - Miami was stacked on D which helped his numbers. Now back in the Day when Suggs was at ASU he was tripped teamed on every play and still put up 20+ in his last year. Of course the Cards passed on the HOF even tho he is a trash person in real life

 

[TheCardFan]

Why would anyone trade up?

It's not a great year for it but someone might want to get the #1 WR or Edge.
I really don't see any other reason.

 

[Chopper0080]

If we do go OT, I’d rather much go Mauigoa over Fano.

I agree but the Shanny stretch zone scheme does place an importance on movement which I feel would favor Fano. Early in the process tho.

 

[BritCard]

It's not a great year for it but someone might want to get the #1 WR or Edge.
I really don't see any other reason.

It's a pretty good class in both those groups. Someone might call but it's going to be a bad offer. What people will be willing to pay to move up this year won't be much (I would think).

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
6h
NFL Draft Analyst
@McShay13
has the #AZCardinals selecting OT Francis Mauigoa in his latest mock draft.

"Mauigoa fits that bill as a 6-foot-6, 320-pound mauler who is plenty capable of enveloping edge rushers at right tackle in LaFleur’s scheme."

 

[Harry]

I agree but the Shanny stretch zone scheme does place an importance on movement which I feel would favor Fano. Early in the process tho.

True, but it wouldn’t shock me if they can’t upgrade at QB thst they’re still a run first to establish a viable play action strategy. That’s likely would favor Mauigoa IMO.

 

[azgreg]

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[Chopper0080]

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I also think Klubnik could have more to offer and would be worth a peek.

 

[Adrian]

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SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
2h
NFL Draft Analyst
@RobRang
has the #AZCardinals selecting RB Jeremiyah Love in his latest mock draft.

"Love is right there with Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley as the top running back talents I’ve evaluated over the past 25 years."

 

[Delmar M Lewis]

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SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
2h
NFL Draft Analyst
@RobRang
has the #AZCardinals selecting RB Jeremiyah Love in his latest mock draft.

"Love is right there with Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley as the top running back talents I’ve evaluated over the past 25 years."

Wouldnt mind it at all depending if we could get a R tackle in free agency I hear quite a few talking heads say John Gains is looking rather good at guard to

 

[GatorAZ]

Wouldnt mind it at all depending if we could get a R tackle in free agency I hear quite a few talking heads say John Gains is looking rather good at guard to

Let’s get weird…
.

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