ryknyse'S MOCK DRAFT
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ryknyse'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON JAN 27, 2026

all keim'd up

  • ryknyse DRAFTING FOR THE
    Cardinals
Draft Selections
Kayden McDonald Head Shot
PICK: 31 RND: 1 (ARI)
Kayden McDonald
DL Ohio State
Olaivavega Ioane Head Shot
PICK: 34 RND: 2 (ARI)
Olaivavega Ioane
OG Penn State
Dillon Thieneman Head Shot
PICK: 39 RND: 2 (ARI)
Dillon Thieneman
S Oregon
Derrick Moore Head Shot
PICK: 63 RND: 2 (ARI)
Derrick Moore
DE-EDGE Michigan
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 65 RND: 3 (ARI)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Caden Curry Head Shot
PICK: 95 RND: 3 (ARI)
Caden Curry
DE Ohio State
D'Angelo Ponds Head Shot
PICK: 104 RND: 4 (ARI)
D'Angelo Ponds
CB Indiana
Trinidad Chambliss Head Shot
PICK: 126 RND: 4 (ARI)
Trinidad Chambliss
QB Ole Miss
Aaron Graves Head Shot
PICK: 139 RND: 5 (ARI)
Aaron Graves
DL Iowa
J'Mari Taylor Head Shot
PICK: 141 RND: 5 (ARI)
J'Mari Taylor
RB Virginia
Aaron Anderson Head Shot
PICK: 166 RND: 5 (ARI)
Aaron Anderson
WR LSU
Josh Moten Head Shot
PICK: 181 RND: 6 (ARI)
Josh Moten
CB Southern Miss
Riley Mahlman Head Shot
PICK: 217 RND: 7 (ARI)
Riley Mahlman
OT Wisconsin
Draft Picks Received
Kayden McDonald Head Shot
PICK: 31 RND: 1 (NE)
Kayden McDonald
DL Ohio State
Dillon Thieneman Head Shot
PICK: 39 RND: 2 (CLE)
Dillon Thieneman
S Oregon
Derrick Moore Head Shot
PICK: 63 RND: 2 (NE)
Derrick Moore
DE-EDGE Michigan
Caden Curry Head Shot
PICK: 95 RND: 3 (NE)
Caden Curry
DE Ohio State
Trinidad Chambliss Head Shot
PICK: 126 RND: 4 (BUF)
Trinidad Chambliss
QB Ole Miss
Aaron Graves Head Shot
PICK: 139 RND: 5 (CLE)
Aaron Graves
DL Iowa
Aaron Anderson Head Shot
PICK: 166 RND: 5 (BUF)
Aaron Anderson
WR LSU
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 1 (NE)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 2 (NE)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Francis Mauigoa Head Shot
PICK: 3 RND: 1 (NE)
Francis Mauigoa
OT Miami
Players traded away
Head Shot
Budda Baker
S
Head Shot
Kyler Murray
QB
Draft Grade — Cardinals
Overall D
ValueB- NeedB TradesF FutureA+
The Cardinals lost the trade table, and the D tells the story.

The Cardinals torched the value chart for Derrick Moore, taking him 35 spots sooner than anyone had him slotted.

Overpaying at the table undid a lot of the good work elsewhere. If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through tight end.

The Slaughter steal is the beam this whole class leans on.

Bottom line, they will be counting on several picks to beat their grades.

Pick Analysis
Pick31 Rnd1 Kayden McDonald
In slot 31 they get a wrecking ball inside. A real need, handled.
Pick34 Rnd2 Olaivavega Ioane
They took Olaivavega Ioane at par in Round 2, Pick 2, which is nothing to complain about. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick39 Rnd2 Dillon Thieneman
By-the-book stuff, Dillon Thieneman at the 39th overall pick squarely in line with his ranking. A minor itch, scratched.
Pick63 Rnd2 Derrick Moore
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Derrick Moore well ahead of where he belonged. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick65 Rnd3 Jake Slaughter
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Jake Slaughter at pick No. 65. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick95 Rnd3 Caden Curry
A market-rate edge rusher, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Caden Curry. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick104 Rnd4 D'Angelo Ponds
D'Angelo Ponds in the 104th pick is fair value, right on his grade. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick126 Rnd4 Trinidad Chambliss
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Trinidad Chambliss in pick 126. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick139 Rnd5 Aaron Graves
A premium they did not need to pay, Aaron Graves a notch or two before his time. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick141 Rnd5 J'Mari Taylor
No drama and no debate, J'Mari Taylor went about where he belonged in slot 141. It fills a real need, too.
Pick166 Rnd5 Aaron Anderson
Aaron Anderson slid further than he should have, and the Round 5 slot is lovely value for the wide receiver. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick181 Rnd6 Josh Moten
A straight-up fair deal on Josh Moten at pick No. 181, value and slot in agreement. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
Pick217 Rnd7 Riley Mahlman
Riley Mahlman in No. 217 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.