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TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 03: New Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks to the media during a press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on February 03, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur will be feeling the Arizona heat more than usual as his Cardinals try to right the ship in the 2026 NFL draft. The Cardinals and LaFleur will be under extreme pressure to nail the draft, or risk falling further behind their NFC West rivals.
Arizona finished 3-14 last season, in a year when their three other divisional opponents made the playoffs. Additionally, Seattle won the Super Bowl, and L.A. advanced to the NFC Championship. The Cardinals could not be further behind everyone else, and the draft might be the saving grace they hope for.
Currently, they have seven picks, which is tied with the Rams. The 49ers have six selections, while the defending champion Seahawks have the fewest with four. That mark for the Redbirds includes three selections in the first 100 picks. Given how many holes they need filled, they are one of the biggest wild cards in the top five.
They can literally go in so many directions, and there’s even chatter across the league that Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love might be in play for them at No. 3.
The team is entering the draft with a first-time head coach in LaFleur and holdover general manager Monti Ossenfort. Typically, a combination like that doesn’t fare well for very long, especially since the team hasn’t moved the needle under Ossenfort. However, the duo is committed to acquiring the talent needed for long-term success at the top of the draft.
Selecting the best player available would be crucial to help LaFleur succeed, as his new team continues fading from relevance.
The Cardinals are in the midst of their worst stretch since moving to the desert — and that’s really saying something. Arizona has gone 19-49 from 2022 to 2025, including three double-digit loss campaigns. They’ve also only made five postseason appearances this century, including once in the last decade (2021).
Arizona isn’t going to catch up to the rest of the division during the draft, yet they can attempt to narrow the gap by hitting on their top selections. Fair or not, LaFleur and the Cardinals’ brain trust must get it right this weekend, or risk staying behind the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers for the foreseeable future.
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