For 40+ years I have been predicting Cardinal draft selections. My best year was with Rivals. Mike from our site was actually part of the press corps at the Cardinals’ headquarters. With the greatest of fortune I hit the first 3 picks. Mike said the room went wild as no one there did. I don’t recall any mocks beating me either. However when Mike returned for day 2, I missed on every pick. Though in fairness after round 3 it’s a usually free for all.
In other years I’ve hit the first pick a few times. I’ve missed more often. Here and there I’ve hit a pick later in the draft, but it’s a crapshoot. The odds are heavily against everyone. This is the hardest year I have seen. Despite being widely assailed on the board, Ossenfort, to me, has done a solid job of building depth to the extent that the Cards have a wide array of draft directions to strengthen the team. I have a solid understanding of what my plan of attack would be, but Ossenfort constantly surprises me. He sees the process of tram building differently.
One of the keys to successful drafting is looking ahead to at least the next draft and Free Agency. 2026 will likely be a good year for QBs, CBs, OTs and maybe EDGEs. It doesn’t project to be a good year for DTs and WRs. Also a team needs to look at the contracts and probable durability of existing starters. Recent signee Tomlinson likely has 2 solid years of performance. So the DT position could be jeopardized soon. Likewise WR is already thin beyond Harrison, so both anticipated future weaknesses may be hard to address in the 2026 draft. Looking at Free Agency WRs look a little better than DTs though tags could change that. To me this says DTs are the biggest concern. Fixing WRs will be challenging just because the draft pool is weak. It wouldn’t shock me to see a WR go with the Cards’ second pick if the right guy fell.
I will still put up my preferred selections, but my confidence level is weak. We will shortly find out the Cards’ direction for this season. I am already confident they will be a playoff contender and likely a successful one. Keep in mind these are not my favorites, just my projection. They are in order of preference. So if someone from round 2 isn’t chosen before the Cards’ pick, that player becomes the top pick for round 3. I know, it’s logical. The list for round 7 is lengthened to allow for UDFAs who might be Cards targets. In the case of OLs, they’d only sign one as they would likely go to the Practice Squad. The others are developmental prospects who could likely be more immediate assets especially on special teams.
Round 1
Graham DT Mich (trade up req)
Grant DT Mich
Nolen DT Miss
Harmon DT Ore
Williams Edge GA
Pearce Edge Tenn
Round 2
Umanmielen EDGE Miss
Bond WR TX
Jackson OG OSU
Noel WR Ia St
Schwesinger LB UCLA
Round 3
Tuimoloau LB OSU
Skattebo RB ASU
Alexander DT Tol
Brown OT Kan
Royals WR UTST
Revel CB ECU
Round 4 115
Dylan Fairchild OG Ga
Tory Horton WR ColoST
Tai Felton WR Mary
Emery Jones OT LSU
Jack Slater OG SacST
Kobe King LB PSU
Round 5 152
Luke Kandra OG Cinn
Jordan Hancock CB OSU
Shilo Sanders S ColST
Jaylin Lane WR VaTech
Thomas Perry OG Midbry
Round 7 225
Jay Higgans LB IA
Kitan Crawford S NEV
Hunter Wohler S Wisc
Isaac TeSlaa WR Ark
Trey Wedig OL Ind
Carson Bruener LB Wash
Tamuarion Wilson S CArk
In other years I’ve hit the first pick a few times. I’ve missed more often. Here and there I’ve hit a pick later in the draft, but it’s a crapshoot. The odds are heavily against everyone. This is the hardest year I have seen. Despite being widely assailed on the board, Ossenfort, to me, has done a solid job of building depth to the extent that the Cards have a wide array of draft directions to strengthen the team. I have a solid understanding of what my plan of attack would be, but Ossenfort constantly surprises me. He sees the process of tram building differently.
One of the keys to successful drafting is looking ahead to at least the next draft and Free Agency. 2026 will likely be a good year for QBs, CBs, OTs and maybe EDGEs. It doesn’t project to be a good year for DTs and WRs. Also a team needs to look at the contracts and probable durability of existing starters. Recent signee Tomlinson likely has 2 solid years of performance. So the DT position could be jeopardized soon. Likewise WR is already thin beyond Harrison, so both anticipated future weaknesses may be hard to address in the 2026 draft. Looking at Free Agency WRs look a little better than DTs though tags could change that. To me this says DTs are the biggest concern. Fixing WRs will be challenging just because the draft pool is weak. It wouldn’t shock me to see a WR go with the Cards’ second pick if the right guy fell.
I will still put up my preferred selections, but my confidence level is weak. We will shortly find out the Cards’ direction for this season. I am already confident they will be a playoff contender and likely a successful one. Keep in mind these are not my favorites, just my projection. They are in order of preference. So if someone from round 2 isn’t chosen before the Cards’ pick, that player becomes the top pick for round 3. I know, it’s logical. The list for round 7 is lengthened to allow for UDFAs who might be Cards targets. In the case of OLs, they’d only sign one as they would likely go to the Practice Squad. The others are developmental prospects who could likely be more immediate assets especially on special teams.
Round 1
Graham DT Mich (trade up req)
Grant DT Mich
Nolen DT Miss
Harmon DT Ore
Williams Edge GA
Pearce Edge Tenn
Round 2
Umanmielen EDGE Miss
Bond WR TX
Jackson OG OSU
Noel WR Ia St
Schwesinger LB UCLA
Round 3
Tuimoloau LB OSU
Skattebo RB ASU
Alexander DT Tol
Brown OT Kan
Royals WR UTST
Revel CB ECU
Round 4 115
Dylan Fairchild OG Ga
Tory Horton WR ColoST
Tai Felton WR Mary
Emery Jones OT LSU
Jack Slater OG SacST
Kobe King LB PSU
Round 5 152
Luke Kandra OG Cinn
Jordan Hancock CB OSU
Shilo Sanders S ColST
Jaylin Lane WR VaTech
Thomas Perry OG Midbry
Round 7 225
Jay Higgans LB IA
Kitan Crawford S NEV
Hunter Wohler S Wisc
Isaac TeSlaa WR Ark
Trey Wedig OL Ind
Carson Bruener LB Wash
Tamuarion Wilson S CArk
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