After months of intense debates and player evaluations, the Arizona Cardinals are finally set to use the third overall pick on who they hope becomes a franchise cornerstone. Of course, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort could receive a trade offer too good to refuse, leading to Arizona adding to its draft capital while still landing a prospect they highly covet.
Yet, the Cardinals themselves may not yet know what they’ll be doing on draft day. Like most other teams, the Cardinals’ plans could depend on how the draft board falls ahead of them, with the Jets selecting at No. 2, and rumored to be targeting a pass-rusher.
According to Essentially Sports’ NFL insider Tony Pauline, the Cardinals’ GM “wants” Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. If he’s no longer available, then the Cardinals’ front office will “work hard” to trade down in the first round.
“The Cardinals, specifically general manager Monti Ossenfort, want David Bailey,” Pauline wrote. “If he’s not available, Arizona will work hard to move the pick. They could potentially move the selection before the draft even begins. If Bailey is unavailable and they can’t move the pick, I’m told it’s unlikely they select Arvell Reese, as they view him as a hybrid defender versus a pure edge rusher, and the Cardinals have bombed on hybrid selections in the past.”
The Cardinals have attempted to draft the draft freaks who have no natural home in the NFL, such as Isaiah Simmons at eight in 2020 and Zaven Collins at 16 in 2021. Neither lived up to their potential, and the fear could be that Reese won’t either.
Though, Ossenfort wasn’t even with the Cardinals back in 2020 or 2021, meaning he had nothing to do with the Cardinals’ previous draft misses. One would think that shouldn’t impact how he grades Cardinals draft prospects going forward, but unless Pauline’s report is a smokescreen, Arizona doesn’t seem too infatuated with Reese, which makes us wonder how far the Ohio State hybrid might fall on draft day.
Related: Arizona Cardinals Targeting Specific Position at 3 + Trade Into Late First-Round
Tennessee Titans Coach Robert Saleh Reportedly Covets Specific ‘Game-Changing’ Prospect at No. 4
Buffalo Bills Doing ‘Insane Work’ On Specific Position Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
Stephen A. Smith: Misogyny Has NOTHING to Do With Dianna Russini’s Vrabel Scandal