The Cardinals trade back, get an offensive lineman and their QB in this first-round mock draft.
The 2026 NFL draft begins Thursday with the first round, and Arizona Cardinals want to know how things will play out. Will they trade out of the third overall pick? Will they stay there and pick someone? Will they get a quarterback?
On the podcast, cohost Seth Cox and I mocked the first round of the draft. Below is my mock draft, based on what I can add up with needs, information and fits.
2026 first-round mock draft: Picks 1-10
- Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
- New York Jets: Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese
- TRADE Kansas City Chiefs: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
- Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
- New York Giants: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
- Cleveland Browns: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
- Washington Commanders: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
- New Orleans Saints: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
- TRADE Arizona Cardinals: Utah OT Spencer Fano
- New York Giants: Ohio State S Caleb Downs
The projected trade has the Cardinals sending the Chiefs picks No. 3 and No. 34 in exchange for No. 9, No. 29, No. 74 and a 2027 third-round pick.
I don’t believe the smoke around Love and the Cardinals. It just doesn’t make that much sense to add him to a room that already has James Conner and Tyler Allgeier.
Picks 11-20
11. Miami Dolphins: USC WR Makai Lemon
12. Dallas Cowboys: Miami EDGE Rueben Bain
13. LA Rams: LSU CB Mosoor Delane
14. Baltimore Ravens: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman
16. New York Jets: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.
17. Detroit Lions: Alabama OT Monroe Freeling
18. Minnesota Vikings: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
19. Carolina Panthers: Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion
20. Dallas Cowboys: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
Picks 21-32
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Miami EDGE Ahkeem Mesidor
22. LA Chargers: Penn State G Vega Iaone
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Clemson OT Blake Miller
24. Cleveland Browns: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald
25. Chicago Bears: Clemson DT Peter Woods
26. Buffalo Bills: Washington WR Denzel Boston
27. San Francisco 49ers: Utah OT Caleb Lomu
28. Houston Texans: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor
29. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
30. Miami Dolphins: Tennessee CB Colton Hood
31. New England Patriots: Texas A&M G Chase Bisonte
32. Seattle Seahawks: Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price
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.
