The 2026 NFL draft is a little more than three weeks away, and the Arizona Cardinals have been connected to three positions in recent mock drafts. They focus on pass rushers, offensive tackles or Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
They are the Cardinals’ most pressing needs, so it makes sense.
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Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy has a new mock draft that goes two rounds. As has been the trend, Simpson goes to the Cardinals.
See how it happens.
Round 1, No. 3 overall: Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
Bain is exactly what you want from an all-around edge defender but as a pass rusher, his short arms are unprecedented as far as pass rushers and sack totals. No pass rusher in NFL history has gotten double-digit sacks in a season with arms as short as Bain’s.
Three of the top prospects in this draft are edge rushers — Bain, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey. Bailey goes second overall in these projections, and the Cardinals get Bain.
Bain’s physical profile might make the selection risky, but he was dominant. The Cardinals have an extra advantage, though, with two former Miami coaches on their staff as assistants.
The consensus is the Cardinals will get a tackle or a pass rusher here, and a pass rusher does give you the best value, especially since the quality significantly drops after the first round.
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They could still get a decent tackle in Round 2. They don’t, though.
Round 2, No. 34 overall: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
If the Cardinals believe Simpson is that guy to be their quarterback of the future, this isn’t a bad spot to get him, and not having to trade picks to move up to get him is even better.
But is he a better option than a tackle like Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, who is still on the board?
That will be the debate if this happens.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals get Ty Simpson in Round 2
