2026 Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 6 picks | Overall Grade: B+ Last Updated: December 30, 2025Executive Summary
Arizona Cardinals enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 6 selections and critical needs at Offensive Tackle, Wide Receiver, Running Back. This mock has them addressing their biggest weaknesses while maintaining draft value.
Complete Draft Class:---
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #5 - Arizona Cardinals: Jordyn Tyson, Wide Receiver, Arizona State
Rank: #6 overall | Grade: A | Need Match: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Why This Pick:Arizona takes Arvell Reese to inject game-wrecking talent into their front seven, even though offensive tackle and receiver rank higher on the needs list. Reese's freakish 6-4, 243-pound frame with 99th-percentile power creates the kind of matchup nightmares that change offensive game plans. The Cardinals are betting on a Micah Parsons-lite hybrid who can rush, drop into coverage, and destroy running games.
The Fit:Reese's positional versatility—logged snaps at edge, inside linebacker, and slot defender at Ohio State—gives Arizona's defensive coordinator endless alignment options. His explosive lower body generates overwhelming force at the point of attack, and his run-defense instincts trigger him downhill before blocks can engage. The limited sample size as a starter (2025 breakout only) is the gamble, but the physical ceiling suggests a decade-long defensive cornerstone.
Scouting Report:If Jordyn Tyson was off the board, Arizona Cardinals could target similar Wide Receivers in the top 10 range.
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Pick #9 - Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, Running Back, Notre Dame
Rank: #8 overall | Grade: A | Need Match: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Why This Pick:Cincinnati addresses their third-ranked need by taking Jermod McCoy, betting his elite ball skills and coverage instincts outweigh the ACL injury that cost him the 2025 season. McCoy's four interceptions in 2024—three inside the opponent's three-yard line—demonstrate the kind of momentum-shifting playmaking cornerbacks rarely possess. The Bengals are gambling on a full recovery from a player whose tape screamed first-round talent.
The Fit:McCoy's explosive change-of-direction speed and physical press technique give Cincinnati a corner who can match up on the boundary against the AFC North's imposing receivers. His 44 tackles in 2024 prove he's not afraid to support the run, and his reputation as one of the best tackling defensive backs in college football adds value. The limited high-major experience—just one full season at Tennessee—creates projection risk, but the Darius Slay comparison captures his upside.
Scouting Report:If Jeremiyah Love was off the board, Arizona Cardinals could target similar Running Backs in the top 10 range.
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Pick #102: Jake Slaughter (Center, Florida) - Grade C+. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #143: Anthony Smith (Edge Rusher, Minnesota) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #185: Lance Heard (Offensive Tackle, Tennessee) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #219: Marlin Klein (Tight End, Michigan) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.---
Arizona Cardinals Draft Class Summary
Overall Grade: B+ What Went Right:---
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