2026 first round mock draft: Who will the Cardinals take?

The Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks this past weekend signified that most likely, the franchise will miss this year’s playoffs despite eight games left on the schedule.

With this in mind, what to do with this roster, and what should happen in the off-season is now on everyone’s mind. Cardinals’ fans are used to waiting for next year.

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Right now, with a 3-6-0 record and getting knocked down further in the division standings, Arizona is slotted to pick #11 in the April NFL draft. That will change between now and the end of the season, but it’s fun to see what players the team can select that certainly will be a position of need.

So, let’s go ahead and do a way-too-early mock draft. Here at ROTB, we aren’t smart enough to come up with our own, but we can borrow someone’s who is. USA Today Sports recently offered its latest first-round projection in the 2026 NFL draft.

Let’s see who they project for the Cardinals in Round 1:

• 1. Tennessee Titans: DE/LB Arvell Reese – Ohio State
• 2. New Orleans Saints: QB Fernando Mendoza – Indiana
• 3. New York Football Giants: WR Jordyn Tyson – Arizona State
• 4. Cleveland Browns: QB Ty Simpson – Alabama
• 5. New York Jets: QB Dante Moore – Oregon
• 6. Las Vegas Raiders: DE Rueben Bain, Jr. – Miami
• 7. Miami Dolphins: S Caleb Downs – Ohio State
• 8. Washington Commanders: DE Keldric Faulk – Auburn
• 9. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Peter Woods – Clemson
• 10. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta): OT Spencer Fano – Utah
• 11. Arizona Cardinals: OT Francis Mauigoa – Miami

USA Today stated this about Arizona’s pick:

“Arizona probably doesn’t need the 6-6, 315-pounder to haul in trick-play touchdowns like he did Saturday for the Hurricanes. Mauigoa’s brand of bully ball should make him sufficiently attractive for the Cardinals, with his stout protection also coming in handy to counter the NFC West’s many imposing pass rushers.”

Okay. Agreed that an offensive lineman is at the top of the draft pile going forward.

If Fano (6’-6”, 302 pounds) drops, or the Cardinals pick a little earlier, Fano is the cream of this year’s offensive tackles. LT Paris Johnson seems set, but is on his last year of this contract. Jonah Williams has been very disappointing at RT, so either Mauigoa or Fano could slide into his spot.

Maybe Williams can move to offensive guard if a new guy is drafted high? At Folsom High School in California and then at Alabama, all Mauigoa has played is tackle, so the transition would need some developing. Guard and tackle are so different. But Williams needs a replacement, and early in the draft should take care of the issue.

Mauigoa is the second-ranked offensive tackle in this year’s draft and is a natural right tackle. He has remarkable physical tools. His college coach stated that...