NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals wheel, deal, land OT, QB, EDGE

It is the weekend before the 2026 NFL draft, and we have another seven-round mock draft simulation for the Arizona Cardinals. Since we know the Cardinals are trying to move back in the first round of the draft and drafting quarterback Ty Simpson seems like it is going to happen, those were two priorties.

Using Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator, there were a few trades. See the trades and the results below.

Draft-day trades

In the first round, the New York Jets want to come up and have consecutive picks like the Houston Texans did in 2023. They give the Cardinals the No. 16 pick, the No. 33 pick and No. 44 pick for No. 3 and the Cardinals' fourth-round pick (No. 104).

In Round 2, with consecutive picks at No. 33 and No. 34 after the trade with the Jets, the Cardinals trade back, giving the Houston Texans No. 34 for No. 37, No. 106 (getting back into the fourth round) and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

With the 44th pick, which they got from the Jets, they move back in the second round again, giving the Kansas City Chiefs No. 44 for No. 52 and No. 84 (a third-rounder).

So the Cardinals ended up with these picks:

• Round 1, No. 16 overall
• Round 2, No. 33 overall
• Round 2, No. 38 overall
• Round 2, No. 52 overall
• Round 3, No. 65 overall
• Round 3, No. 84 overall
• Round 4, No. 106 overall
• Round 5, No. 143 overall
• Round 6, No. 183 overall
• Round 7, No. 217 overall
• 2027 fourth-round pick

Cardinals picks in 7-round mock draft simulation

• Round 1, No. 16 overall: Utah OT Spencer Fano
• Round 2, No. 33 overall: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
• Round 2, No. 38 overall: UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence
• Round 2, No. 52 overall: Georgia Tech G Keylan Rutledge