The Arizona Cardinals have been pegged with selecting two positions consistently in any mock draft \u2014 they either go with a pass rusher or a tackle. For a while, it was almost always a tackle. Now, with just over two weeks remaining until the actual 2026 NFL draft, the trend is moving toward pass rusher.<\/p>\n
A new first-round mock draft<\/a> from NFL.com’s Rhett Lewis has the Cardinals going with a pass rusher \u2014 David Bailey out of Texas Tech.<\/p>\n Lots of options for the Cardinals here, including taking the top running back (Jeremiyah Love) or the top offensive lineman (Francis Mauigoa) in this year’s class. But Bailey is also a top player, and at a premier position the Cardinals desperately need after finishing with just 30 sacks in 2025.<\/p>\n Ohio State’s Arvell Reese goes second overall to the New York Jets.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Bailey makes so much sense for the Cardinals. He has both the ideal physical traits and the on-field production in college. The Cardinals badly need pass-rushing help for Josh Sweat, as the group of Zaven Collins, Baron Browning, Jordan Burch and BJ Ojulari combined for 5.5 sacks in 2025.<\/p>\n But once again we are seeing Love mentioned, even though running back would be seemingly redundant on this roster.<\/p>\n The top of the draft has very talented edge defenders. Bailey makes sense, which is why so many people wonder if that is why the Cardinals won’t do it.<\/p>\n Get more Cardinals<\/a> and NFL coverage from Cards<\/a> Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Apple podcasts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n