The Arizona Cardinals will have an interesting offseason in 2026. There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of questions heading into next season.
The general consensus is quarterback Kyler Murray has played his last snap, or at least will not be back for the 2026 season. The Cardinals need to find a solution beyond Jacoby Brissett at the position for the future, and they need to get better protection for that solution.
Who Should the Cardinals Select In the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Cardinals have seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, with one in each round. The Cardinals currently hold the 10th-overall pick, sitting tied with three other teams at 3-7.
Between Murray and Brissett, the Cardinals rank No. 18 and No. 16 in the NFL, according to PFSN’s QB Impact. Assuming Murray does not return, that’s the biggest need this offseason.
There’s a lot of time before the draft, but here’s a 7-round mock draft for the Cardinals in 2026.
Round 1, Pick 10: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Spencer Fano is the perfect fit opposite of Paris Johnson Jr. on the Cardinals’ offensive line. In the NFL, if you want to get a young quarterback and allow him to be successful, you have to protect him.
Fano is a three-year starter at Utah who logged 11 starts at left tackle in his freshman year and 13 starts at right tackle in his sophomore year.
The Utes’ offensive lineman brings elite versatility and has the honors to demonstrate his dominant abilities on the field. Fano earned Freshman All-American first-team honors and multiple All-American honors in his sophomore year, along with First Team All-Big 12 honors.
Fano has a deep family history of playing at the collegiate and NFL level, with four uncles spending time in the league.
The veteran lineman has explosive power in the run game, rare movement for his size that allows him to recover well even when beaten initially, and strong mental recognition of plays and schemes.
Fano also runs a 4.90 forty at 6-foot-6-inches and 302 pounds. The Utah product is a Day 1 starter in the NFL and would anchor the other side of the Cardinals’ offensive line.
Round 2, Pick 41: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
The Cardinals select LaNorris Sellers in the second round with the 41st-overall pick. Sellers is in different spots based on different draft boards, and I think he could drop to the Cardinals at pick 41.
The top three quarterbacks in the draft are Dante Moore, Ty Simpson, and Fernando Medonzo, not in any specific order, but Sellers would be the perfect fit for the Cardinals.
The South Carolina quarterback has all the qualities you want and has displayed them all at various points throughout his college career.
Sellers has the speed, power, and shiftiness to be a dangerous dual-threat runner, similar to Kyelr Murray, but he has the size as well. The Gamecocks’ quarterback is 6-foot-3-inches and 240 pounds. His size is more comparable to Josh Allen’s.
The South Carolina product has the arm strength to make throws on any platform, but also has pocket awareness.
The Cardinals would draft Sellers and have the ability for him to sit for a year behind Brissett to learn the speed and the game at the NFL level, and then take over in Year 2.
Round 3, Pick 72: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
The Cardinals select Zachariah Branch with the 72nd-overall pick out of Georgia for his slot receiving ability and instant impact on special teams.
I think of Branch as a younger, more talented Greg Dortch. He’s not the tallest guy at just 5-foot-10-inches, 180 pounds, but he’s quick and agile.
Branch announced himself in his freshman year when he earned First Team All-American honors as a returner. The former USC receiver has plenty of receiving ability, but he’s so dynamic as a returner.
Branch averaged 30.6 yards per punt return in his freshman year and had two total touchdown returns from punts and kickoffs.
However, in his sophomore year, he grew into his own in the receiving game before transferring to Georgia to boost his draft stock.
Branch has top-notch acceleration, rare stop-start ability, natural vision, and reliable hands as both a returner and receiver.
The Cardinals have their top two receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, who both display size, but Branch could be an impact WR3 from day one and be an asset on special teams.
Round 4, Pick 110: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
The Cardinals select Logan Jones with the 110th-overall pick to add more stealth to their offensive line.
Jones has played center for three years at Iowa, but the Hawkeye played on the defensive line in high school, so he has versatility, and you can never go wrong with a lineman from Iowa.
Jones is 6-foot-3-inches and 302 pounds and runs a 4.90 forty. The Iowa product didn’t play much in 2020 and 2021 due to injuries, but he’s started every game at center for the Hawkeyes from 2022-2025, with 38 consecutive starts.
In 2024, Jones earned First Team All-Big Ten honors from the media and Second Team from the coaches. He was also the highest graded center among Power Four players by Pro Football Focus.
Jones has elite power and athleticism, demonstrated by his forty time, his 700-pound squat record, and his 425-pound bench press.
The Hawkeye is intelligent, having learned the center position in one offseason when he switched from defense to offense. Therefore, he could move along the line if needed.
If the Cardinals are going to start over with a new quarterback, they need to make sure he’s protected.
Round 5, Pick 149: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
The Cardinals select Bryce Boettcher with the 149th-overall pick to add depth to the linebacker position.
Boettcher is a former three-sport athlete in high school and went to Oregon to play baseball. He starred in centerfield and at shortstop before walking on to the Ducks’ football team.
The Oregon product began as a defensive back before he gained muscle to switch to linebacker. He’s extremely versatile and broke out in 2024, earning the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s top walk-on.
Boettcher was selected by the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft but opted for a fifth year of college football. He has exceptional instincts and can dissect plays, and he’s outstanding in the run game.
He’s a versatile coverage defender with natural leadership and durability. Boettcher has started 13 of his 14 games and hasn’t missed a game due to injury.
The Ducks’ linebacker is still new to the position, but his motor is unmatched. He could be an instant spark on special teams and develop at the linebacker position behind Mack Wilson Sr. and beside Cody Simon.
Round 6, Pick 186: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
The Cardinals select Drew Allar with the 186th-overall pick to provide another option at quarterback.
Allar was looked at as a Heisman candidate coming into the 2025 season, but things unraveled for Penn State. Allar’s 2025 season ended due to injury, but the quarterback has virtually everything you look for in an NFL talent.
The Penn State product is a former five-star recruit who made a name for himself because of his ball security at Penn State. Allar set an FBS record with 311 pass attempts without an interception.
Allar has elite arm talent and strength and has strong mobility to extend plays outside the pocket. The Nittany Lions quarterback still needs to improve when under duress and reading the field to make the best decision.
However, I would be surprised if Allar is still available at this point in the draft. But due to his injuries and backward production from the end of the 2024 season, he could slide.
Bringing in Allar would give Arizona two young quarterbacks to try to start a rebuild around.
Round 7, Pick 224: Roman Hemby, RB, Indiana
The Cardinals pick Roman Hemby with the 224th-overall pick to add another depth piece to their running back room.
Hemby exploded in 2022 with Maryland for almost 1,300 yards and followed that by playing all 13 games in 2023 before transferring to Indiana.
The Hoosiers’ back has explosive acceleration and top-end speed, demonstrated by his 4.40 forty. He’s a versatile three-down back with a strong receiving ability.
Hemby has big-play ability and good vision.
James Connor is getting older, and the Cardinals have tried to go with Emari Demercado and Trey Benson, but Hemby would be another young, explosive back to add to the mix.
