The 2026 NFL draft begins Thursday with the first round, and Arizona Cardinals want to know how things will play out. Will they trade out of the third overall pick? Will they stay there and pick someone? Will they get a quarterback?
On the podcast, cohost Seth Cox and I mocked the first round of the draft. Below is my mock draft, based on what I can add up with needs, information and fits.
TRADE Kansas City Chiefs: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
The projected trade has the Cardinals sending the Chiefs picks No. 3 and No. 34 in exchange for No. 9, No. 29, No. 74 and a 2027 third-round pick.
I don't believe the smoke around Love and the Cardinals. It just doesn't make that much sense to add him to a room that already has James Conner and Tyler Allgeier.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman
19. Carolina Panthers: Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion
24. Cleveland Browns: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald
28. Houston Texans: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor
29. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
31. New England Patriots: Texas A&M G Chase Bisonte
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Projections for Round 1 with Arizona Cardinals trade