2026 Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 7 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: October 26, 2026Overview
Arizona Cardinals enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 7 selections. Biggest needs: Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Edge Rusher.
Complete Draft Class:- Round 1 (#8): Trevor Goosby, Offensive Tackle, Texas — Grade A+
- Round 2 (#39): Damon Wilson II, Edge Rusher, Miami — Grade B
- Round 3 (#70): Luke Montgomery, Offensive Guard, Ohio State — Grade C+
- Round 4 (#104): Jyaire Hill, Cornerback, Michigan — Grade C
- Round 4 (#135): Duce Robinson, Wide Receiver, Florida State — Grade C
- Round 5 (#166): Mario Landino, Defensive Line, Indiana — Grade C-
- Round 6 (#200): DJ Lagway, Quarterback, Baylor — Grade C-
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #8 - Arizona Cardinals: Trevor Goosby, Offensive Tackle, Texas
Rank: #5 overall | Grade: A+ Why This Pick:Tackle sits sixth on Arizona's own need list, but Goosby falling to pick 8 at a rank of 5 is too much value to pass on with four quarterback-needy or premium-position teams already off the board. With QB, WR, EDGE, and safety needs unmet, this isn't a pure need pick, but adding a blindside protector of this caliber is the kind of value play that still improves the roster long term. Letting him slide three spots past his rank makes this an easy call to defend.
The Fit:Goosby brings exactly what a tackle room looking for an anchor piece needs: 6-7, 325 pounds with the length and foot quickness to mirror speed rushers and a heavy anchor that holds up against bull rushes, shown by his one sack allowed over 14 starts in 2025 and a clean outing against Ohio State with just one hurry and one pressure in 80 reps. He's also a mauler as a run blocker who can reset the line and seal backside, which fits a team wanting to establish the ground game. The flaws, lunging, rising pad level, and getting his weight over his toes, are coachable issues rather than physical limitations, and he projects as an immediate starter at tackle despite needing technique refinement against leverage rushers.
- Strengths: Special combination of size, length and quickness at the tackle spot
- Weaknesses: Lunges at defenders, which hurts his ability to sustain blocks
- NFL Comp: Andrew Thomas-style Georgia left tackle with size and run-game power
Pick #39 - Arizona Cardinals: Damon Wilson II, Edge Rusher, Miami
Rank: #38 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:Arizona already used its first pick on the trenches with Trevor Goosby at tackle, and here they pivot to their third-ranked need, edge rusher, without reaching. Wilson falling to 39 when he graded as the 38th-best player in the class is essentially a non-move on the board, value matching slot. With no premium pass rusher clearly established on the roster, adding a player with elite get-off traits at this point in round two is a defensible, low-risk way to address a real need.
The Fit:Wilson slots in as a situational pass rusher early in a 4-3 scheme, leaning on the rare burst that forced SEC tackles into vertical sets and produced nine sacks and 54 pressures at Missouri in 2025. His tape against Oklahoma and Alabama shows the juice holds up against good competition, but the twelve run stops on the season and tendency to get washed when tackles land hands inside his frame mean he's not an every-down answer yet. Arizona will likely deploy him as a third-down rusher while he develops the power element needed to hold up against the run.
- Strengths: Rare, explosive get-off off the edge that forces tackles to vertical-set and opens counter lanes
- Weaknesses: Run-defense production is thin, with just twelve run stops on the season
- NFL Comp: Nolan Smith (Georgia-bred bend-and-burst edge who wins with finesse over power)
Pick #70 - Arizona Cardinals: Luke Montgomery, Offensive Guard, Ohio State
Rank: #90 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:Arizona already used earlier picks on OT and EDGE needs, so grabbing Montgomery at 70 is a value play on interior offensive line depth that ranked outside their top needs list. He's rated 90th overall, so this is a 20-spot reach, but with IOL sitting fifth on their priority board and a thin guard class behind him, betting on a 6'5", 313-pound former starter with upside is a defensible trade-off rather than a reckless one.
The Fit:Montgomery projects as a developmental guard who could eventually start in Arizona's run game, where his light feet on pulls, screens and second-level blocks and his willingness to finish blocks fit a scheme built on climbs and combination work. The concern is his pass protection, since his hands can arrive wide or late and he's only got one full season as a starter at 870 snaps, so he'll need coaching on hand placement and anchor strength before he's trusted on passing downs against powerful interior rushers.
- Strengths: Rare 6'5", 313-pound frame for an interior lineman, with longer levers than most guards
- Weaknesses: Hands can arrive wide or late, giving long interior rushers access to his chest
- NFL Comp: Matt Farniok-type frame and role in the run game
Pick #104: Jyaire Hill (Cornerback, Michigan) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #135: Duce Robinson (Wide Receiver, Florida State) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #166: Mario Landino (Defensive Line, Indiana) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #200: DJ Lagway (Quarterback, Baylor) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.