The Arizona Cardinals’ roster needs some help. That will come with free agency and April’s NFL draft.
Which players the franchise goes after will be determined by who they finally sign as their new head coach. An offensive guy will most likely be looking to bolster that side of the ball whereas a defensive-minded coach would prefer a piece here and there for the defense to improve.
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No matter who Arizona hires, an early mock draft seems to be in order. The Cardinals have some glaring needs that will be easy to address and predict, and then again, a surprise here and there may be in order.
Oregon QB Dante Moore staying in school probably threw the entire first round out of whack. What looked like the top two teams, the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, were locks to grab the best two young quarterbacks in the draft. That left the Cardinals the entire draft class to themselves.
In Round 1, it appears that Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza will go first overall, followed by Ohio State LB Arvell Reese.
Now, keep in mind, this is simply an early look at this year’s draft and what the Cardinals need. Every name in this mock draft could change depending on who they sign in the free agency period, and who the head coach is and his vision for selecting young athletes.
Let’s draft!
Round 1: pick #3
EDGE Rueben Bain, Jr. (6’-3”, 275 pounds)
Miami
40 time: 4.72
Bain is a pass-rushing demon. You cannot have enough pass rushers and cover corners. An amazing specimen of a football player. In high school, he had 77 career sacks and led his team to four consecutive state championships. He is relentless in pursuit of the quarterback. Name a major D-1 program, and Bain received an offer from them.
He has an elite first step that beats offensive tackles’ hands routinely. Violent hands and a pursuit motor that doesn’t stop. Elite flexibility and bend for a 270-pound frame. Consistently wins the pad level battle and has a wide array of pass-rushing moves. Is a good run stopper as well.
With Josh Sweat on one corner, Calais Campbell and Walter Nolen in the middle, the addition of Bain would make the Cardinals’ defensive line one of the best in the league.
Round 2: pick #34
OT Monroe Freeling (6’-7”, 315 pounds)
Georgia
40 time: 5.1
Won the 2A state championship in high school back in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Four-star prospect who played in 56 games over his career and is very durable.
Freeling combines rare length, flexibility, and movement skills that allow him to reach and corral faster edge rushers down deep past the pocket. Quick hands, explosive first step, and has a basketball background. Finishes blocks with a nasty demeanor. Consistently wins the leverage battle against his defensive opponents. Can handle blitz packages without abandoning footwork fundamentals.
OT Paris Johnson has been consistent on the left side of the offensive line for Arizona, but RT Kelvin Beachum is a liability. Freeling is his replacement and a Day 1 starter.
Round 3: pick #65
QB Garrett Nussmeier (6’-1”, 205 pounds)
LSU
40 time: 4.82
Regardless of whether the Cardinals retain Kyler Murray or not, they will need to bring in a young signalcaller to take over at some point. Getting a guy in this year’s draft will enable the coaching staff to allow the young athlete the opportunity to sit for a year and learn from either one or two veterans, as both Jacoby Brissett and Murray are under contract, and hopefully be ready to start in the 2027 season.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss, and Miami’s Carson Beck will all be sitting there when the Cardinals select with the first pick in Round 3. Chambliss may become a superstar, but for now needs some development. Beck was named Florida’s Mr. Football as a senior in high school and won a state championship.
Nussmeier is a quick processor, a pocket technician, and a ball placement artist. His release mechanics stay compact through different arm angles. While not a great scrambler, he has improved in this respect over the past two seasons. He has resilience and mental toughness.
Think taking a signalcaller in the third round is a wasted pick? Both Joe Montana and Russell Wilson were selected in this round. Picking a quarterback here will not help the Cardinals in 2026, but it gives them a young option once the franchise finally decides what to do with both Murray and Brissett down the line.
Round 4: pick #104
OT Brian Parker II (6’-5”, 305 pounds)
Duke
40 time: 5.2
Even though Parker played right tackle throughout his college career, in the pros, he is projected to be moved to offensive guard, one of the Cardinals’ most vital needs. In college, he played 1,831 snaps in 32 games, so durability is in his wheelhouse. He was on the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch list and earned Second Team All-ACC recognition.
Parker has anchor strength with very good recovery skills. Has excellent hand placement and rarely gets walked back in pass protection. Has good mental toughness and is a nasty finisher. Given a good training camp, Parker very well could become a Day 1 starter.
By taking Parker, they are drafting an offensive guard who played tackle in college. That means versatility. Improving the guard position is a huge need for this Arizona offense.
Round 5: pick #141
RB Roman Hemby (6’-0”, 208 pounds)
Indiana
40 time: 4.4
Will James Conner return to the roster? If so, will his abilities have diminished? What is the word on Trey Benson? Too many unknowns at the moment, so let’s bring in a young speed demon and plug him into the system.
Hemby is a dynamic playmaker with explosive acceleration. Once he hits the second level, he shifts into another gear. Can take the hits and is a really good receiver. Demonstrates good vision and patience.
Very elusive in space with quick cuts. Will need to be worked up on backfield blocking, but is a willing blocker. Versatile three-down back.
Round 6: pick #181
LB Red Murdock (6’-3”, 240 pounds)
Buffalo
40 time: 4.77
Murdock is a tackling machine. He was second in the nation in total tackles with 142. The season before, he had 156 total tackles. Two-time First Team All-MAC and set a college football record of 17 forced fumbles. Won a high school state championship.
He will attack downhill with conviction and on running plays, makes up his mind, finds a hole, and goes after the ballcarrier. Reliable tackler. Legitimate skill and will play through contact at the point of attack.
The Cardinals are known as a poor-tackling team. This will change when Murdock arrives. Reads his keys quickly and is able to position himself where the ball is going rather than chasing ballcarriers. Functions effectively as a blitzer and is a very good run stopper.
Round 7: pick #217
OG D.J. Campbell (6’-3”, 321 pounds)
Texas
40 time: 5.1
Was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and was named MaxPreps All-America First Team and Under Armour All-American. The Cardinals will need some quality depth on the interior that can eventually become starter material.
Elite frame and able to overwhelm defenders at the point of attack. Absolute mauler in the run game and his forte. Stout pass protector. Clean injury slate. Will ball in big games and be able to pick up stunts.
The knock on him is he has raw pass pro technique, and he over-relies on mass rather than refined hand placement.
