NFL mock draft: Projections for Round 1 with Arizona Cardinals trade

The 2026 NFL draft begins Thursday with the first round, and Arizona Cardinals want to know how things will play out. Will they trade out of the third overall pick? Will they stay there and pick someone? Will they get a quarterback?

On the podcast, cohost Seth Cox and I mocked the first round of the draft. Below is my mock draft, based on what I can add up with needs, information and fits.

2026 first-round mock draft: Picks 1-10

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
2. New York Jets: Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese
3. TRADE Kansas City Chiefs: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
4. Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
5. New York Giants: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
6. Cleveland Browns: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
7. Washington Commanders: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
8. New Orleans Saints: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
9. TRADE Arizona Cardinals: Utah OT Spencer Fano
10. New York Giants: Ohio State S Caleb Downs

The projected trade has the Cardinals sending the Chiefs picks No. 3 and No. 34 in exchange for No. 9, No. 29, No. 74 and a 2027 third-round pick.

I don't believe the smoke around Love and the Cardinals. It just doesn't make that much sense to add him to a room that already has James Conner and Tyler Allgeier.

Picks 11-20

11. Miami Dolphins: USC WR Makai Lemon

12. Dallas Cowboys: Miami EDGE Rueben Bain

13. LA Rams: LSU CB Mosoor Delane

14. Baltimore Ravens: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman

16. New York Jets: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.

17. Detroit Lions: Alabama OT Monroe Freeling

18. Minnesota Vikings: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq

19. Carolina Panthers: Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion

20. Dallas Cowboys: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy

Picks 21-32

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Miami EDGE Ahkeem Mesidor

22. LA Chargers: Penn State G Vega Iaone

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Clemson OT Blake Miller

24. Cleveland Browns: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald

25. Chicago Bears: Clemson DT Peter Woods

26. Buffalo Bills: Washington WR Denzel Boston

27. San Francisco 49ers: Utah OT Caleb Lomu

28. Houston Texans: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor

29. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals: Alabama QB Ty Simpson

30. Miami Dolphins: Tennessee CB Colton Hood

31. New England Patriots: Texas A&M G Chase Bisonte

32. Seattle Seahawks: Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Projections for Round 1 with Arizona Cardinals trade