Cardinals 2026 NFL Draft: Picks by round, biggest needs, best fits
For the Arizona Cardinals, the biggest need in the 2026 NFL Draft is an obvious one: Quarterback.
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the Arizona Cardinals , the biggest need is an obvious one: Quarterback. The word out of the NFL owners meetings was that the Cardinals are preparing to start Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.
Brissett is a serviceable bridge QB, but he's not the long-term solution at the position. Gardner Minshew currently is penciled in as the backup quarterback. The Cardinals could draft a QB or wait until next year's draft in which the quarterback class is expected to be considerably better.
MORE: Biggest need for every team entering 2026 NFL Draft Here's everything you need to know about the Arizona Cardinals for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster. Arizona Cardinals NFL draft best prospect fit: OT Spencer Fano, Utah Per USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostly: Arizona has plenty of needs but the biggest one would be certainty at offensive line (after quarterback). Fano is the best offensive lineman in this class and could realistically line up at any spot in that group.
He started at right tackle for Utah but teams have worked him out at either guard or even center leading up to the draft. NFL DRAFT: Finding the perfect prospect for every team Arizona Cardinals NFL draft trade candidate: S Budda Baker Per USA TODAY's Jack McKessy: Baker's name was among those floating around the trade rumor mill ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. As the Cardinals embrace their rebuild by trading away quarterback Kyler Murray, Baker's name could be next on the list.