Jan. 20, 2026, 4:33 a.m. MT
The Arizona Cardinals are in the middle of their search for a new head coach, but it is the offseason, and with the end of the college football season, we can firmly begin to look at the 2026 NFL draft.
The Cardinals have the third overall pick in the 2026 draft, giving them many options. Will they be able to select a quarterback? Probably not one worth a first-round pick, but we do have a new mock draft from Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy.
Who is the Cardinals’ pick?
Arizona Cardinals, No. 3 pick overall: Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
Reese is a do-it-all linebacker who can dominate on the inside or line up and rush the passer.
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Reese was an All-American in 2025. He had 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and 69 total tackles.
He is a great off-ball linebacker and can rush the passer. He is expected to be a top-five pick in the draft. Considering the Cardinals’ question marks at both the defensive edge and at linebacker, Reese would make sense, and the Cardinals with their four first-round picks in the last three years, have only taken players from the SEC or the Big Ten.
Reese fits the bill.
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