2026 NFL draft: 12 players with first-round grades

[ASFN Admin]

The Arizona Cardinals have the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, which means they are guaranteed to have an opportunity to select one of the top prospects in the draft. While there are 32 picks in the first round, there aren't always 32 players who would universally get a first-round grade.

ESPN's Matt Miller believes there are only 12 true first-round prospects in this draft class.

Who are they?

12 true 1st-round prospects in 2026 draft​

These are Miller's rankings below.

1. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
2. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
3. Ohio State S Caleb Downs
4. Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
5. Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
6. Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
7. Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
8. USC WR Makai Lemon
9. Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
10. Tennessee CB Jermond McCoy
11. Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
12. LSU CB Mansoor Delane

The Cardinals have been connected to Reese, Bailey and Mauigoa regularly in mock drafts.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.



This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2026 NFL draft: 12 players with first-round grades

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