ryknyse'S MOCK DRAFT
  1. Home
  2. Simulator

ryknyse'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAR 31, 2026

Cardinals

  • ryknyse DRAFTING FOR THE
    Cardinals
Draft Selections
Kayden McDonald Head Shot
PICK: 12 RND: 1 (ARI)
Kayden McDonald
DT Ohio State
Cashius Howell Head Shot
PICK: 20 RND: 1 (ARI)
Cashius Howell
DE-EDGE Texas A&M
Blake Miller Head Shot
PICK: 34 RND: 2 (ARI)
Blake Miller
OT Clemson
Josiah Trotter Head Shot
PICK: 65 RND: 3 (ARI)
Josiah Trotter
LB Missouri
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 92 RND: 3 (ARI)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Bud Clark Head Shot
PICK: 104 RND: 4 (ARI)
Bud Clark
S TCU
Mason Reiger Head Shot
PICK: 112 RND: 4 (ARI)
Mason Reiger
LB-EDGE Wisconsin
Zxavian Harris Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (ARI)
Zxavian Harris
DT Ole Miss
Josh Cameron Head Shot
PICK: 183 RND: 6 (ARI)
Josh Cameron
WR Baylor
Nick Barrett Head Shot
PICK: 217 RND: 7 (ARI)
Nick Barrett
DL South Carolina
Jeff Caldwell Head Shot
PICK: 218 RND: 7 (ARI)
Jeff Caldwell
WR Cincinnati
Draft Picks Received
Kayden McDonald Head Shot
PICK: 12 RND: 1 (DAL)
Kayden McDonald
DT Ohio State
Cashius Howell Head Shot
PICK: 20 RND: 1 (DAL)
Cashius Howell
DE-EDGE Texas A&M
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 92 RND: 3 (DAL)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Mason Reiger Head Shot
PICK: 112 RND: 4 (DAL)
Mason Reiger
LB-EDGE Wisconsin
Zxavian Harris Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (DAL)
Zxavian Harris
DT Ole Miss
Jeff Caldwell Head Shot
PICK: 218 RND: 7 (DAL)
Jeff Caldwell
WR Cincinnati
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 4 (DAL)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
David Bailey Head Shot
PICK: 3 RND: 1 (DAL)
David Bailey
LB-EDGE Texas Tech
Kaytron Allen Head Shot
PICK: 143 RND: 5 (DAL)
Kaytron Allen
RB Penn State
Players Gained
Head Shot
Tyler Smith
OT
Draft Grade — Cardinals
Overall B
ValueC+ NeedB TradesA+ FutureB-
The Cardinals let Slaughter fall and pounced. Final grade: B.

The Cardinals did not reach, did not trade up, did not blink. They just waited, and Jake Slaughter fell into Round 3, Pick 28.

The Barrett pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. They won the margins on every swap, and it adds up fast. They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it.

In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.

Pick Analysis
Pick12 Rnd1 Kayden McDonald
In No. 12 they get an anchor for the defensive front, even if it was a touch early.
Pick20 Rnd1 Cashius Howell
In slot 20 they get a premier pass rusher at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Pick34 Rnd2 Blake Miller
They paid up for Blake Miller at the Round 2 slot when waiting would have done the job. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick65 Rnd3 Josiah Trotter
Josiah Trotter slid further than he should have, and Round 3, Pick 1 is lovely value for the linebacker. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick92 Rnd3 Jake Slaughter
The board fumbled Jake Slaughter all the way to the 92nd overall pick, and they scooped it up. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick104 Rnd4 Bud Clark
Bud Clark in pick 104 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Pick112 Rnd4 Mason Reiger
Mason Reiger at pick No. 112 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick152 Rnd5 Zxavian Harris
They took Zxavian Harris at par in the 152nd pick, which is nothing to complain about. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick183 Rnd6 Josh Cameron
No edge and no loss on Josh Cameron in slot 183; it is a wash and a sensible one. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick217 Rnd7 Nick Barrett
This one needs a full-page explanation: Nick Barrett in the 217th pick, miles early. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick218 Rnd7 Jeff Caldwell
Jeff Caldwell at Round 7, Pick 2 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.