G'S MOCK DRAFT
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G'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON FEB 23, 2026

Done deal

  • G DRAFTING FOR THE
    Cardinals
Draft Selections
Ty Simpson Head Shot
PICK: 3 RND: 1 (ARI)
Ty Simpson
QB Alabama
Carnell Tate Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (ARI)
Carnell Tate
WR Ohio State
Blake Miller Head Shot
PICK: 34 RND: 2 (ARI)
Blake Miller
OT Clemson
A.J. Haulcy Head Shot
PICK: 65 RND: 3 (ARI)
A.J. Haulcy
S LSU
Emmett Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 104 RND: 4 (ARI)
Emmett Johnson
RB Nebraska
Red Murdock Head Shot
PICK: 141 RND: 5 (ARI)
Red Murdock
LB Buffalo
Xavier Nwankpa Head Shot
PICK: 178 RND: 5 (ARI)
Xavier Nwankpa
S Iowa
Aaron Anderson Head Shot
PICK: 181 RND: 6 (ARI)
Aaron Anderson
WR LSU
Raylen Wilson Head Shot
PICK: 217 RND: 7 (ARI)
Raylen Wilson
LB Georgia
Bryce Foster Head Shot
PICK: 234 RND: 7 (ARI)
Bryce Foster
C Kansas
Anez Cooper Head Shot
PICK: 240 RND: 7 (ARI)
Anez Cooper
OG Miami
Draft Picks Received
Carnell Tate Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (MIN)
Carnell Tate
WR Ohio State
Xavier Nwankpa Head Shot
PICK: 178 RND: 5 (NYJ)
Xavier Nwankpa
S Iowa
Bryce Foster Head Shot
PICK: 234 RND: 7 (MIN)
Bryce Foster
C Kansas
Anez Cooper Head Shot
PICK: 240 RND: 7 (MIN)
Anez Cooper
OG Miami
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (MIN)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (MIN)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 2 (ARI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Players Gained
Head Shot
Thomas Booker IV
DT
Head Shot
Malcolm Koonce
DE
Players traded away
Head Shot
Budda Baker
S
Head Shot
Greg Dortch
WR
Head Shot
Kyler Murray
QB
Draft Grade — Cardinals
Overall D-
ValueC+ NeedA- TradesF FutureC
The Cardinals answered their biggest question with Simpson. Grade: D-.

The Cardinals put a flag in the ground for Red Murdock, 47 picks before anyone else would have, and the value took the hit.

The trades bled value they could not afford to lose. Whatever Ty Simpson becomes, the front office has tied its fortunes to the answer.

They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it. The Anderson value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere.

Add it up and it is a weekend the front office will hope everyone forgets, edge rusher very much included.

Pick Analysis
Pick3 Rnd1 Ty Simpson
In pick 3 they get their quarterback of the future, even if it was a touch early. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick18 Rnd1 Carnell Tate
In Round 1, Pick 18 they get a difference-maker at receiver, and a steal at that. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Pick34 Rnd2 Blake Miller
Value said wait; Blake Miller in the 34th pick says they were not listening. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick65 Rnd3 A.J. Haulcy
Value with a capital V on A.J. Haulcy in the Round 3 slot, a genuine coup. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick104 Rnd4 Emmett Johnson
Emmett Johnson at No. 104 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. The roster fit checks out.
Pick141 Rnd5 Red Murdock
Red Murdock at pick No. 141 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick178 Rnd5 Xavier Nwankpa
By-the-book stuff, Xavier Nwankpa at Round 5, Pick 40 squarely in line with his ranking. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Pick181 Rnd6 Aaron Anderson
Aaron Anderson slid further than he should have, and No. 181 is lovely value for the wide receiver. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick217 Rnd7 Raylen Wilson
Raylen Wilson at pick 217 is a conviction pick that outran the value. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick234 Rnd7 Bryce Foster
Bryce Foster at the 234th pick jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick240 Rnd7 Anez Cooper
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Anez Cooper. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.