NFL draft grades: Mel Kiper dings Arizona Cardinals in one area

TL;DR

Mel Kiper assigned the Arizona Cardinals a 'B' grade for their performance in the 2026 NFL draft, highlighting concerns in one specific area.

Key points

Mel Kiper graded the Arizona Cardinals' 2026 NFL draft performance.
The Cardinals received a 'B' grade.
Concerns were raised in one specific area of their draft strategy.
Draft grades reflect expectations and player fit.
Comparison with other NFL teams' draft grades is relevant.

Mel KiperArizona Cardinals

NFL draft grades: Mel Kiper dings Arizona Cardinals in one area

The 2026 NFL draft is over, and now the focus shifts to grades. Grades are reactions to players selected based on expectations, fit and other players on the board.

What do people thing of what the Arizona Cardinals did in the draft?

ESPN's Mel Kiper gave them a 'B'.

Kiper, a staunch opponent of drafting running backs in the first round, was just fine with the Cardinals taking a running back third overall.

Love is not a running back in the classical sense. He's a dynamic offensive playmaker who is going to spark an otherwise dull Arizona offense. He's a Reggie Bush clone with incredible vision and burst, and with 4.36 speed, he can go the distance any time he touches the football. Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry last season, he hit nine 20-yard gains (tied for 10th in the FBS) and he forced 60 missed tackles (top 20).

All of that puts him in the first round, but what takes him into another tier and makes him worthy of such a high selection is his ability in the passing game. I'd bet Hackett will get him lined up out wide or in the slot. He will be sprinting out into the flat for quick gains and after-the-catch opportunities. Love has soft hands and runs good routes. Arizona isn't solely going to hand the ball off to him; it is going to target him often in the pass game. The RB room is certainly crowded now, with Allgeier and James Conner, but Love jumps to the top of the list. Heck, the Cardinals could even get two of them on the field, with Love out wide. They have a lot of options and opportunities for creativity, and this pick will absolutely energize the fan base.

He believes second-round pick Chase Bisontis should be the Cardinals' starting right guard, and he had posiyoive things to say about quarterback Carson Beck, selected in the third round. He wasn't sure Beck's abilities push him ahead of and , but "he's a worthy shot" and doesn't impact 2027 plans.