7-Round Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft: Cardinals make franchise shifting changes in blockbuster first round

It’s time to take a look in the mirror and make some changes

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) against the Mississippi Rebels during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Arizona Cardinals are in a weird place right now. They need to make some major changes that go beyond just hiring a new coaching staff. One of the first things they have to do is be honest with themselves. They have not drafted well in the past few years. Here’s a 7-round mock draft that gets the Cardinals on the right track for the future.

3rd pick: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Jonah Williams is headed to free agency, and here’s the Cardinals’ opportunity to go out and get the best tackle in the class to fit right into that right tackle spot. Either that or the Cardinals could decide to move Paris Johnson back to right tackle and put Mauigoa on the left. They have choices with this one.

Blockbuster trade sends Kyler Murray to the Steelers

Nobody wants to admit when things don’t work out, but this did not work out. Whether it was injuries or the Cardinals just deciding to shut him down like they did this year, the experiment has borne no fruit outside of a pretty good 2021 season. 2021 was a long time ago. It’s over. Rip it off like a Band-Aid.

Cardinals get: 21st pick
Steelers get: Kyler Murray

21st pick: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

The Cardinals need to get younger on the interior, and grabbing the very best guard in this draft is the way to go. Ioane allowed just three sacks in his time at Penn State. Those were all three years ago. He was one of the best pass blockers in the nation and was a pretty solid run blocker, too.

Trade back up into the first round

The Seahawks were kind enough to help out their division rivals by moving down two spots and letting the Cardinals get back into the first round with the 32nd pick. They did have to give up the 34th pick and 104th pick to get it done, though.

Cardinals get: 32nd pick
Seahawks get: 34th and 104th picks

32nd pick: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

And there’s the Cardinals quarterback of the future. They get the QB2 of the class, and he’s no consolation prize. This is really a two-quarterback draft. Fernando Mendoza and Simpson, and that’s about it. Simpson had a great season for Alabama in 2025, posting 3,561 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five picks.

65th pick: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

With James Connor likely not coming back, the Cardinals get RB2 in this draft with Coleman. His 2025 season was a bit of a step back and hurt his draft stock, but in 2024, we saw Coleman go over 1,000 yards and put up 10 touchdowns. In 2025, it was 758 yards and 15 touchdowns. A lot of it had to do with Washington’s offense struggling as a whole.

  • 141st pick: Nadame Tucker, Edge, Western Michigan
  • 182nd pick: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
  • 217th pick: Ceyair Wright

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