The Arizona Cardinals aren't in an ideal spot in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sporting the worst quarterback room in the NFL, and sharing a division with three other playoff teams, this franchise could legitimately be three years away from just being able to sniff the playoffs.
And to add insult to injury, this year's NFL Draft class doesn't have as much talent as you'd like, so the Cardinals are probably holding out hope that the 2027 class could bring a more impactful group of players. However, this team does have three picks in the top 75 selections, including the third overall pick.
There will be some talent to be had, and in this fresh Cardinals mock draft, General Manager Monti Ossenfort is able to bring in a solid rookie class.
Updated Arizona Cardinals mock draft is spewing with high-end draft prospects
3. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Davild Bailey has a lot of Nik Bonitto to his game - he's athletic, quick, and insanely productive. He's not the best against the run, but excelling as a rusher does make up for that a bit. The Cardinals did remake the defensive line last offseason and should keep adding to it.
After the quarterback position, the trenches are the most important on a roster.
34. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Speaking of trenches, Max Iheanachor is spilling over with traits and athleticism. He's newer to football, so he's going to take some development, but he's 6-6, 321 pounds, has arms nearly 34 inches long, and was able to run a sub-5 second 40-yard-dash.
The Cardinals could use a long-term right tackle prospect, and Iheanachor fits that mold. Thus far in this mock, while no quarterback is yet in sight, the Cardinals have still done well in bolstering the other critically important parts of their roster.
If we take a long-term view here, the Cardinals could, in theory, load up on either side of the ball as much as possible, especially on the offensive and defensive lines in preparation for a potential Round 1 rookie quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.
65. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Personally, I am not a fan of Eli Stowers the tight end prospect, and it seems like some NFL teams are already looking at Stowers as a wide receiver. He's got virtually not blocking ability but does make up for some of that with some high-end athleticism and pass-catching traits, which is something.
Stowers could be a mismatch on most defensive backs with his size and traits, but you're not going to be drafting him to be a factor in the blocking phase of things. That alone should hurt his draft stock in a class loaded with tight ends who do have blocking capabilities.
104. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
The Cardinals should still take a shot on a rookie quarterback this year, as you simply never know who could be the next franchise passer. This is especially true for Arizona with their current quarterback situation. Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew are occupying the QB1 and QB2 spots, so I'd personally think that Garrett Nussmeier could be a solid QB3 and potential developmental prospect for the team.
Nussmeier's strengths include avoiding bad sacks and being able to 'zip' the ball wherever he wants on the field. However, he's not the best processor, so that could limit his chances to make it as anything more than a backup in this league.
143. Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington
Ephesians Prysock is a cornerback prospect from Washington who the Cardinals could take a chance on at pick 143 in their quest to stack this roster up with as much talent as possible.
183. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Double-dipping at quarterback is not overkill for the Cardinals at all. Now looking to Cole Payton, Arizona keeps their options open. The more darts you have, the better chance at throwing a bullseye.
217. Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Finishing up in this mock draft, the Cardinals take a wide receiver who converted to running back in Adam Randall. His size is off the charts, and his pass-catching ability could make him a very feasible and immediate third-down option.