The NFL’s Christmas Day lineup is lacking serious holiday magic this year
Christmas Day 2025 is already looking like a bust for the NFL due to injuries and teams already eliminated from playoff contention.
How have we gotten here? This Arizona Cardinals’ season was supposed to lead to the playoffs. At the very least, it was supposed to lead to contention. Christmas week should have been about setting the stage for a heavyweight showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Instead, the Bengals are 5-10 and the Cardinals are somehow even worse, at 3-12.
So now, that familiar time of year has arrived, far earlier than anyone had hoped. It’s mock draft season.
This year’s draft class is widely considered to be a thin group, but that’s OK for the Cardinals. They currently hold the No. 6 pick. The big question, though, is where they’ll be able to find their quarterback of the future.
So for the first time, here are our top 10 projected picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. As always, this mock draft is without trades.
1. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
If the Giants do ultimately end up with the No. 1 pick, a trade becomes highly likely. New York already has a promising young quarterback, Jaxson Dart, while the rest of the top 10 is packed with quarterback-needy teams — including the Cardinals, of course.
Would Arizona pony up the package required for the top selection? That’s a question for general manager Monti Ossenfort and, potentially, head coach Jonathan Gannon, if he retains his job. But it might be the best path to a quarterback, given the teams currently ahead of them.
If the Giants beat the Raiders this week, though, Las Vegas will jump into the No. 1 spot. Unlike the Giants, the Raiders desperately need quarterback help and would not likely trade the pick.
As for Reese, he could be the top non-quarterback off the board, as a versatile, explosive player who can line up off the edge or at linebacker. It’s just unlikely it will actually be at the No. 1 pick after trades.
2. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, is noted for his elite football intelligence and ability to play on-time within an offense. If this Cardinals’ coaching staff remains in place, that will be an appealing proposition, given that they preferred Jacoby Brissett to Kyler Murray for those reasons. The problem will be getting a high enough draft pick to secure Mendoza, who is the betting favorite for the top pick.
3. Cleveland Browns: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Some expect Moore to remain in school, as he has made just 18 career starts and could earn a nice NIL payday if he returned to Oregon. But as his draft stock climbs, so too do his chances of declaring. That would be a major boost for the Cardinals, who need as many quarterbacks as possible in this class to help their chances of finding one. On the field, Moore stands out with his accuracy and creativity as a passer.
4. New York Jets: Rueben Bain, Edge, Miami
As has been the case for most of the past five decades, the Jets need a quarterback this spring. But if they end up behind the Raiders and Browns, that might require a trade up. Fortunately for New York, they have five first-round picks over the next two years — ammunition that the Cardinals can’t match.
As for Bain, he’s a powerful edge rusher who just notched three sacks against Texas A&M in the College Football Playoff. He could be the first defensive player off the board.
5. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Unlike the quarterback-needy teams around them, the Titans are in a great spot. Their top offseason priority will be finding talent to help support Cam Ward. And no matter where they end up, they should be able to draft either Tate or Jordyn Tyson, the top two wide receivers.
6. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
So, this is the Cardinals’ conundrum. Only two quarterbacks are currently seen as top-five picks, and one of them might stay in college.
Trading up would be expensive, especially for a team that has holes all over its roster. Ty Simpson — the potential third quarterback off the board — would be a reach. There are few good options, unless their pick moves up over the next two weeks.
All of that could leave the Cardinals looking to another position. That’s where Fano comes in. He’s an athletic player who is widely considered the top tackle in the class. Pairing him with Paris Johnson Jr. would give the Cardinals their tackle duo of the future and boost an offensive line that has struggled in 2025.
7. Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Purely from a talent perspective, Love might be the best player in this class. But as with Ashton Jeanty last year, the issue is positional value. Washington would be passing up on much-needed defensive help to draft Love.
Still, the idea is tantalizing: a hyper-talented running back to pair with Jayden Daniels. That would give Washington one of the league’s most dangerous rushing attacks and reduce the need for Daniels to play hero ball, potentially helping him stay healthier.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyler Shough has been a pleasant late-season surprise, removing the Saints from the list of teams that need quarterback help. Drafting Tyson to pair with Chris Olave would suddenly create the potential for an exciting offense in New Orleans.
While a homecoming with Tyson might be enticing for local fans — especially after missing out on Cam Skattebo last year — the fit doesn’t make much sense for the Cardinals. Wide receiver is one of their few positions of strength.
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
In many ways, Downs is the Jeremiyah Love of the defensive side — an elite talent at a non-premium position. The Bengals, though, need all the help they can get on defense, no matter where it comes. Downs would be a nice fit.
10. Miami Dolphins: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Simpson is the wild card of this quarterback class. He could return to college, with only one year of starting experience under his belt. He could also slip to the back of the first round, due to both his lack of his experience and his struggles late in the season. Or teams could be wooed by his processing ability and early-season tape, shooting him up draft boards. All three options are on the table for now.