Fly Red Birdie ...Fly High'S MOCK DRAFT
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Fly Red Birdie ...Fly High'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON DEC 2, 2025

Red Birdies

  • Fly Red Birdie ...Fly High DRAFTING FOR THE
    Cardinals
Draft Selections
Fernando Mendoza Head Shot
PICK: 8 RND: 1 (ARI)
Fernando Mendoza
QB Indiana
Olaivavega Ioane Head Shot
PICK: 39 RND: 2 (ARI)
Olaivavega Ioane
OG Penn State
Darrell Jackson Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 70 RND: 3 (ARI)
Darrell Jackson Jr.
DT Florida State
D'Angelo Ponds Head Shot
PICK: 105 RND: 4 (ARI)
D'Angelo Ponds
CB Indiana
Jalon Kilgore Head Shot
PICK: 148 RND: 5 (ARI)
Jalon Kilgore
S South Carolina
Max Iheanachor Head Shot
PICK: 186 RND: 6 (ARI)
Max Iheanachor
OT Arizona State
Trey Zuhn III Head Shot
PICK: 221 RND: 7 (ARI)
Trey Zuhn III
OT Texas A&M
Draft Grade — Cardinals
Overall B-
ValueC+ NeedA- TradesB- FutureB-
The Cardinals bet the future on Mendoza. The board says B-.

The Cardinals spent the pick that matters most on Fernando Mendoza, and a roster that has been waiting on a passer can start to take shape. No fireworks, but a solid B-.

The Kilgore pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged. That wide receiver hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall.

Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.

Pick Analysis
Pick8 Rnd1 Fernando Mendoza
In the 8th overall pick they get the face of the franchise, even if it was a touch early. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick39 Rnd2 Olaivavega Ioane
Olaivavega Ioane in the Round 2 slot is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick70 Rnd3 Darrell Jackson Jr.
They did well to land Darrell Jackson Jr. in Round 3, Pick 6, just ahead of his grade. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick105 Rnd4 D'Angelo Ponds
The board had cheaper options than D'Angelo Ponds at the 105th pick, and it noticed. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Pick148 Rnd5 Jalon Kilgore
Jalon Kilgore at No. 148 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick186 Rnd6 Max Iheanachor
Steal is underselling it; Max Iheanachor at pick No. 186 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick221 Rnd7 Trey Zuhn III
Trey Zuhn III in slot 221 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.