NFL mock draft: Execs think Arizona Cardinals will get pass rusher

We have almost run out of time for mock drafts with less than 48 hours until the start of the 2026 NFL draft. The Athletic, after speaking to NFL executives, put together a mock draft for the top 10 picks of the first round.

Naturally, we care about the third overall pick, which the Arizona Cardinals have.

In this mock draft, the Cardinals land Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey.

One exec said, "Bailey is the safest pick," which is absolutely true. The Cardinals passed on Will Anders in 2023, electing to trade back. They need pass-rushing help, and he has the look of a consistently productive pass rusher.

The third pick "is where it gets interesting," another executive said. It is unknown whether the Cardinals will trade back and, if they stay, who will be their pick.

Bailey is the simplest pick to make if he is on the board. Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese could be there if Bailey is taking second overall, which is not as cut-and-dried as Bailey. But the talk surrounding Jeremiyah Love is interesting because he might be the best player in the draft. The problem is the Cardinals' running back room doesn't look like it could use another back.

Over the last few weeks, the talk surrounding the Cardinals has gone from debating between a pass rusher and tackle to whether they should trade back, to whether Love should be the pick, and then there is the part where they want to get quarterback Ty Simpson, which means getting back into the first round. Now, as things are settling, it appears that they could end up just making the easiest pick.

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