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Arizona Cardinals âWantâ Specific Target With No. 3 Pick in 2026 NFL Draft
TL;DR
The Arizona Cardinals aim to select Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If Bailey is unavailable, they may trade down to acquire more draft capital.
Key points
- Arizona Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
- General manager Monti Ossenfort wants David Bailey
- Cardinals may trade down if Bailey is unavailable
- Previous hybrid selections have not met expectations
David BaileyArvell ReeseArizona Cardinals
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 theyâll be doing on draft day. Like most other teams, the Cardinalsâ 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 Sportsâ NFL insider Tony Pauline, the Cardinalsâ GM âwantsâ Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. If heâs no longer available, then the Cardinalsâ front office will âwork hardâ to trade down in the first round.
âThe Cardinals, specifically general manager Monti Ossenfort, want David Bailey,â Pauline wrote. âIf heâs 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 canât move the pick, Iâm told itâs 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.â
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 wonât either.
Though, Ossenfort wasnât even with the Cardinals back in 2020 or 2021, meaning he had nothing to do with the Cardinalsâ previous draft misses. One would think that shouldnât impact how he grades Cardinals draft prospects going forward, but unless Paulineâs report is a smokescreen, Arizona doesnât 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
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Q&A
Who do the Arizona Cardinals want to select with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Arizona Cardinals want to select Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 3 pick.
What will the Cardinals do if David Bailey is not available during the draft?
If David Bailey is not available, the Cardinals will work hard to trade down in the first round.
Why are the Cardinals hesitant to select Arvell Reese in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Cardinals are hesitant to select Arvell Reese because they view him as a hybrid defender and have previously struggled with similar selections.
