ipple'S MOCK DRAFT
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ipple'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON JAN 6, 2026

Ipples genuine draft

  • ipple DRAFTING FOR THE
    Cardinals
Draft Selections
Fernando Mendoza Head Shot
PICK: 3 RND: 1 (ARI)
Fernando Mendoza
QB Indiana
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 52 RND: 2 (ARI)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Diego Pavia Head Shot
PICK: 65 RND: 3 (ARI)
Diego Pavia
QB Vanderbilt
Blake Miller Head Shot
PICK: 104 RND: 4 (ARI)
Blake Miller
OT Clemson
Max Iheanachor Head Shot
PICK: 141 RND: 5 (ARI)
Max Iheanachor
OT Arizona State
LJ Martin Head Shot
PICK: 183 RND: 6 (ARI)
LJ Martin
RB BYU
Gracen Halton Head Shot
PICK: 189 RND: 6 (ARI)
Gracen Halton
DL Oklahoma
Dane Key Head Shot
PICK: 217 RND: 7 (ARI)
Dane Key
WR Nebraska
Cayden Lee Head Shot
PICK: 226 RND: 7 (ARI)
Cayden Lee
WR Ole Miss
Isaiah Nwokobia Head Shot
PICK: 236 RND: 7 (ARI)
Isaiah Nwokobia
S SMU
Draft Picks Received
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 52 RND: 2 (GB)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Gracen Halton Head Shot
PICK: 189 RND: 6 (CIN)
Gracen Halton
DL Oklahoma
Cayden Lee Head Shot
PICK: 226 RND: 7 (CIN)
Cayden Lee
WR Ole Miss
Isaiah Nwokobia Head Shot
PICK: 236 RND: 7 (GB)
Isaiah Nwokobia
S SMU
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 2 (GB)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 6 (CIN)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (GB)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Avieon Terrell Head Shot
PICK: 34 RND: 2 (GB)
Avieon Terrell
CB Clemson
Players Gained
Head Shot
Isaiah McDuffie
LB
Draft Grade — Cardinals
Overall B
ValueB- NeedA- TradesB FutureB
Quarterback settled, Mendoza in the fold, and a B for the Cardinals.

Start where it matters. The Cardinals took Fernando Mendoza to run the offense for the next decade, and every other decision this weekend bends around that one. The bottom line is a respectable B.

The Pavia pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. If one pick saves this weekend, it is Martin. The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer.

A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.

Pick Analysis
Pick3 Rnd1 Fernando Mendoza
No edge and no loss on Fernando Mendoza in slot 3; it is a wash and a sensible one. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick52 Rnd2 Jake Slaughter
A quiet steal in pick No. 52: Jake Slaughter for less than the market said. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick65 Rnd3 Diego Pavia
They reached into another round for Diego Pavia, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick104 Rnd4 Blake Miller
Blake Miller in the 104th pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick141 Rnd5 Max Iheanachor
A big swing on Max Iheanachor at Round 5, Pick 3, well ahead of any board in the building. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick183 Rnd6 LJ Martin
They will replay LJ Martin at pick 183 for years; that is how good the value is. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick189 Rnd6 Gracen Halton
Gracen Halton at the Round 6 slot is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick217 Rnd7 Dane Key
Dane Key in No. 217 lands just on the right side of the ledger. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick226 Rnd7 Cayden Lee
A wild overpay on Cayden Lee in slot 226, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick236 Rnd7 Isaiah Nwokobia
Value with a capital V on Isaiah Nwokobia in the 236th pick, a genuine coup. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.