The Cardinals go with an offensive lineman in these first-round projections from Charles Davis.
It is mock draft season, and NFL.com’s Charles Davis released his first mock draft of the season. There is no surprise at the top of the draft, as the Las Vegas Raiders take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
And then, with the second pick, the New York Jets take Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, which might have been a target for the Arizona Cardinals.
Who do the Cardinals get with the third overall pick?
Round 1, pick No. 3: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
The Cardinals must improve on the offensive line under new head coach Mike LaFleur. Mauigoa brings a dose of nastiness to the unit.
The Cardinals have a huge need at right tackle. Mauigoa is a clear fit. Is he better than Utah’s Spencer Fano? Is a tackle pick better than taking an impact pass rusher like David Bailey out of Texas Tech? The Cardinals passed on Will Anderson in 2023, trading down and getting Paris Johnson.
Now, it must be mentioned that drafting Mauigoa would mean straying from a three-year trend where the Cardinals have only selected players from the SEC and Big Ten in the first two rounds of the draft.
One thing that helps is that the Cardinals’ new coaching staff has two assistants who were at Miami last season.
Mauigoa would settle in immediately at right tackle, give the Cardinals two solid young bookends for the offensive line and help whoever is playing quarterback in 2026 be better protected.
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