The calendar has flipped and it's officially draft month. Pro Days have wrapped up, while 30 visits and private workouts continue to be squeezed in between now and April 23. If you ask most draft experts, they believe the fun on draft day will begin once the Cardinals are on the clock. Could they go edge rusher or offensive tackle? How does an inside linebacker with the third pick sound? The experts give their takes.
This mock draft tracker, the fourth of six versions, will feature opinions from NFL experts about their choices for the Cardinals at pick No. 3.
OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
If the Cardinals go offense with their first pick, experts clearly believe the selection will be Francis Mauigoa. There are rumors about moving Mauigoa to guard because of his size, but if the Cardinals take him, they will keep him at right tackle, the position he's played his entire career. At Miami, Mauigoa was a three-year starter. The Cardinals invested in their rushing attack by signing Tyler Allgeier and bringing back James Conner. With the selection of Mauigoa, they will have the best run-blocking tackle in the class.
What some of the experts are saying:
"The Cardinals signed Elijah Wilkinson, but that shouldn't keep them from drafting a long-term solution at right tackle. Mauigoa is a plug-and-play starter and my top tackle in the class." - Jordan Reid/ESPN Staff, ESPN
"The Cardinals solidify the right tackle position for the next decade with Mauigoa, whose combination of sturdy anchor and intense run blocking make him worthy of this selection." - Chad Reuter, NFL.com
"Mauigoa might be more of a guard than tackle, but I'm willing to give him a shot at right tackle, where his power and physicality fit a heavy under-center, play-action offense." - JP Acosta, CBS Sports
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Sonny Styles is one of the more fun watches in the 2026 draft class. His explosiveness and willingness to run after the ball makes him an entertaining prospect that can transform a defense. Yes, he is an inside linebacker. Yes, inside linebackers aren't typically drafted this high. But if the ceiling for Styles is a career similar to Fred Warner/Luke Kuechly, it would be worth selecting a sideline-to-sideline versatile linebacker. The addition of Styles would open up the door for Mack Wilson Sr. to blitz the quarterback more frequently than he did in 2025.
What some of the experts are saying:
"Sonny Styles is one of the best talents in this draft. Offensive line is arguably the biggest need, but there is no point in reaching for a lesser player just to fill it." - Josh Edwards, CBS Sports
"They could also use a rangy, active playmaker to help dominate on the second level for Nick Rallis." - Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News
"Styles has the size and speed to attack all areas of the field, played well in coverage and has use as a blitzer. Styles would immediately slide in as the top dog on the Cardinals' defense and be an interesting case study (no matter where he's drafted) on the potential addition of a top-flight linebacker when no other teams have (a healthy) one." - Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports
"You guys like spider graphs and athleticism? His is 99 percentile everywhere. Maybe the sickest athlete in the draft." - Nick Wright, Fox Sports
OLB David Bailey, Texas Tech
In his first season at Texas Tech from Stanford, David Bailey made a splash on the Big 12. With 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, Bailey lived in the backfield. ESPN's Peter Schrager reported that the Jets are interested at Bailey with the second pick in the draft. If he were to slide past the Jets, the Cardinals could take the top pure edge rusher in the class. As Nick Baumgardner said below, his bag of tricks will allow Bailey to produce in the NFL.
What some of the experts are saying:
"The Cardinals could do just about anything here (including taking an offensive tackle or Sonny Styles). But it's pretty impossible to ignore everything Bailey puts on the table as a twitched-up, savvy and productive edge rusher. His bag of tricks is deep, and he could produce a bunch of sacks sooner rather than later." - Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic
"Arizona is in position here to trade back or simply take the best player available, which happens to be Bailey in this scenario." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
"Arizona could target an offensive tackle with an offensive-minded first-year head coach in Mike LaFleur. But Bailey is too intriguing of a prospect to pass up. Bailey is explosive at the line of scrimmage with multiple go-to moves." - Tyler Dragon, USA Today
"Lots of options for the Cardinals here, including taking the top running back (Jeremiyah Love) or the top offensive lineman (Francis Mauigoa) in this year's class. But Bailey is also a top player, and at a premier position the Cardinals desperately need after finishing with just 30 sacks in 2025." - Rhett Lewis, NFL.com
LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Most experts are in agreement when it comes to Arvell Reese. He has the potential to be one of the best players in the 2026 draft class. The Ringer mentioned his linebacker instinct paired with his bend while pass rushing is too unique for teams to pass on. However, what gives many pause is the lack of edge rusher experience. Reese's speed allows him to win rushes off the edge as opposed to a bag of tricks like other natural pass rushers. Reese could be utilized as a versatile chess piece within Nick Rallis' scheme, which would pose for an interesting addition.
What some of the experts are saying:
"Reese fills a need in Arizona as a potentially elite pass rusher, and I've heard rave reviews on what he can bring off the field from coaches. With the changing of eras in Arizona, the Cards should be seeking out new cornerstone pieces like Reese this month. Speaking of which: One wild card to watch here is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love." - Peter Schrager, ESPN
"The Cardinals need to add blue-chip talent on defense. Reese is arguably the best player in the draft. His elite athleticism and versatility should make him a do-it-all playmaker in the front seven. The Micah Parsons comparisons may be premature, but it would hardly be a surprise if Reese emerges as a top-tier edge rusher." - Jacob Camenker, USA Today
QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
There is a good chance that Ty Simpson hears his name called on the first night of the draft. If that does happen, the Cardinals are one of three teams linked to selecting Simpson. The other options in the first round for Simpson are the Jets (at No. 16) and the Steelers (at No. 21). Getting draft capital or trading back into the first round like some experts anticipate gives Monti Ossenfort the option to select Simpson. During the annual league meetings last week, coach Mike LaFleur was asked about their pre-draft meetings with Simpson. LaFleur didn't share much as the two had under 20 minutes together, but did say he "was very impressed with him as a person."
What some of the experts are saying:
"For anyone infatuated with the sterling tape Simpson compiled – in the first part of last season anyway – he could be a steal, especially at a time when clubs are more comfortable pivoting from Round 1 QBs anyway. Though Simpson only started for one season, he did throw (473) and complete (305) more passes than anyone in the SEC last year, so he did pack a fair amount of experience into 2025." - Nate Davis, USA Today (via trade with Dallas)
"The Cardinals are desperate for young talent at quarterback, as Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis are presently headlining Arizona's depth chart at the position. Simpson's excellent accuracy, ball placement and pocket awareness would make him a nice fit in Mike LaFleur's offense, and the one-year college starter could be afforded a chance to develop behind Brissett and Minshew in 2026." - Jacob Camenker, USA Today (via trade with Chiefs)
Other players mocked to the Cardinals:
OT Reuben Bain Jr., Miami (Pete Prisco, CBS Sports; Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports)
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (Nick Shook, NFL.com)
WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State (Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated)
OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia - at No. 12 after trade with Cowboys (Bruce Feldman, The Athletic)
LB Keldric Faulk, Auburn - at No. 20 after trade with Cowboys (JP Acosta, CBS Sports)
OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami - at No. 20 after trade with Cowboys (Benjamin Solak, ESPN)
