Why Cardinals are ‘biggest mystery’ in 2026 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals have hit the organizational reset button, hiring Mike LaFleur as their next head coach and moving on from quarterback Kyler Murray. What they decide to do with their No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will completely change the trajectory of their franchise.

With so much on the line, Arizona is considering all of their options including potentially trading back. The Cardinals’ overall process has NFL Insider Jordan Schultz calling them the biggest mystery in the draft.

“The Cardinals at #3 remain the biggest mystery for teams in the top five if they stay put, but the belief is a trade down is very much in play, similar to how Arizona operated in 2023 when they moved back from that same #3 spot, per multiple league sources,” Schultz wrote.

In 2023, Arizona traded their No. 3 overall pick to the Houston Texans, moving down to No. 6 and acquiring even more draft capital. They still managed to land left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. while bolstering their future further. If that situation arises in 2026, Arizona may be inclined to make a similar move.

It’s clear the Cardinals need help on both sides of the football. They ended their 2025 campaign ranked 19th in total offense, (325.8 yards per game) and 27th in defense (357.7 YPG). Arizona must leave the 2026 NFL Draft with numerous difference makers across the board.

Staying at No. 3 ensures they land one of the top prospects in the class. But trading back would give the Cardinals more opportunities to strike gold. Once the franchise is on the clock, all of the NFL world will be watching.

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