The NFL Draft is less than a month away. So while the league is currently in its early spring lull following free agency, it’s worth taking another look at who the Arizona Cardinals could target in the draft.
One of the main questions for Arizona to answer in the coming weeks will be how general manager Monti Ossenfort views his roster.
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On one hand, the Cardinals were frugal in free agency and did not add a new starting quarterback — indications that they view 2026 as a rebuilding year.
On the other hand, the average age of their free agent signings was over 30. The new additions are mostly short-term stopgaps, not potential long-term solutions. That suggests that the Cardinals are hoping to stabilize the roster and improve on last year’s three-win tally.
Fortunately, the Cardinals’ draft strategy will answer that question. Will they focus on their glaring needs, including quarterback? Or will they draft the best players possible, fortifying a long-term foundation?
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill with former Cardinals star cornerback Patrick Peterson during his retirement news conference at the Cardinals’ Tempe facility on April 14, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill with former Cardinals star cornerback Patrick Peterson during his retirement news conference at the Cardinals’ Tempe facility on April 14, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper (61) against the Green Bay Packers at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, on Dec. 27, 2015.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (74) yells towards the fans after taking a 18-15 lead in the fourth quarter during NFL action against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 28 at State Farm Stadium.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) is introduced before playing against the Chicago Bears at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. September 23, 2018.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) celebrates his interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars at State Farm Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, on Dec. 30, 2026.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) makes a throw against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Oct. 5, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) runs after an interception against the Patriots during the first half of a game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Dec. 12, 2022.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) against the Kansas City Chiefs during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium in Aug. 9, 2025, in Glendale.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (70) warms up during a preseason game at State Farm Stadium on Aug. 9, 2025, in Glendale.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch ahead of Daron Bland #26 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (97) is introduced before their game against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Nov. 16, 2025.
As a prediction of those answers, here is our latest seven-round Cardinals mock draft.
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Round 1, No. 3 overall: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
No matter when the Cardinals eventually address their quarterback position, they need to create a foundation for that player to succeed.
The good news: They’re not too far away from making that a reality. Their pass-catching corps — with Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. — is in a good spot. So, too, is the left side of the offensive line, with Paris Johnson Jr. and Isaac Seumalo. Center is settled with Hjalte Froholdt, and right guard is passable with the combination of Isaiah Adams and Jon Gaines.
But the Cardinals desperately need to acquire a right tackle at some point in the next two offseasons, and Mauigoa offers a high-floor option at No. 3 — even if it’s not the sexiest pick possible here.
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It’s worth noting that the Cardinals have added some depth pieces at tackle this offseason, as they have at other positions of need like inside linebacker and defensive tackle. Depth pieces on the fringe of the 53-man roster, though, do not impact the calculus at No. 3 overall. The goal with this pick is to solve a problem for the next decade.
Round 1, No. 28 overall (from Houston): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Let’s have some fun. Based on recent history, the Cardinals could move up from No. 34 to a late first-round pick by trading No. 104 overall and a mid-round pick in 2027. That’s often a price worth paying to draft a quarterback, as players selected in the first round have a fifth-year option on their rookie contracts, giving them an extra season of team control.
Really, the question is whether the Cardinals see 2026 as a full-blown tanking season. If that’s the case, they should wait until 2027 to draft a quarterback in the top five. But if they believe that last year was an aberration — and that this team is closer to contention than the consensus opinion — then it makes sense to see if Simpson can be the answer.
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Another factor at play is Ossenfort’s job security. If he has assurances from ownership that his job is safe for another year, then there is less incentive to try to rush into a solution at quarterback.
Round 3, No. 65 overall: Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
Barham is a fascinating prospect who could go anywhere in the middle rounds of the draft. He spent more than three seasons as an inside linebacker before moving into an edge rusher role in Week 3 of his senior year. In his first week at that position, Michigan played Nebraska, whose head coach, Matt Rhule, said after the game that Barham should be a top-10 pick.
Barham didn’t quite live up to that performance all season, but he showed encouraging juice off the edge with a 13.0% pressure rate. And, as a former inside linebacker, he has the versatility to drop into coverage and align in multiple spots. That’s a coveted trait in most modern defensive schemes, including the one that Nick Rallis runs with the Cardinals.
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Given his lack of experience as an edge rusher, there’s plenty of player development work to be done here. But there’s also a tantalizing ceiling for a defense that needs more pass-rushing threats.
Round 5, No. 141 overall: Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana
Speaking of pass-rushing threats, Proctor had nine sacks and a 13.0% pressure rate in 13 games last season. Those are impressive numbers from an interior defensive lineman, even at the FCS level.
Concerns over his lack of collegiate competition will likely push Proctor into Day 3 of the draft, but he notched two sacks when Southeastern Louisiana played LSU, and he excelled at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
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Still, there are question marks with his profile. He’s undersized and will have to improve his run defense to not be moved off the spot by NFL guards and centers. But in the fifth round, his pass-rushing upside is an enticing trait — much like with Barham two rounds earlier.
Round 6, No. 182 overall: Jeremiah Wright, G, Auburn
At 6-foot-5, 331 pounds, Wright has an NFL body and plays with the physicality to succeed at the NFL level. The questions center on his technique and quickness, but his profile is one worth taking a risk on with a late pick.
Plus, there’s a path to making the Cardinals roster, especially if they don’t add interior offensive line help earlier in the draft. He would likely be competing with players like 2025 sixth-round pick Hayden Conner and veteran free agent signing Matt Pryor.
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Round 7, No. 217 overall: Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama
Cuevas was a standout on special teams at Alabama before earning a larger role on offense in 2025, which he used to catch 37 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns. That receiving production might not stand out, but his work on special teams is what NFL teams look for in the late rounds. Plus, the Cardinals could use more depth at tight end, as they have typically carried four players at the position under Ossenfort.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals make swing for QB in 7-round mock draft