The Arizona Cardinals (3-13) are slotted into the No. 5 spot of the 2026 NFL Draft entering the final week of the regular season.
Their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals paired with the Cleveland Browns’ (4-12) win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday made for the one-spot jump from No. 6 the prior week.
Arizona’s pick is guaranteed to fall between Nos. 2-7, with a potential loss in the season finale at the Los Angeles Rams clinching a top-5 slot.
None of the teams currently in the seven highest slots can fall below that, as there’s a two-win gap between Nos. 7 and 8.
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The Las Vegas Raiders are the only team to lock up a top-5 pick so far as the only team at 2-14; the Cardinals are one of four teams sitting at 3-13.
Overall record is the primary determining factor when it comes to the draft order, and strength of schedule is the first tiebreaker. Because Arizona plays in the NFC West, the only division where three teams have at least 11 wins, its strength of schedule is at a natural disadvantage.
2026 NFL Draft top-7 order entering final week of the regular season
Las Vegas Raiders (2-14; .544 strength of schedule) — vs. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) New York Giants (3-13; .531) — vs. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) New York Jets (3-13; .548) — at Buffalo Bills (11-5) Tennessee Titans (3-13; .574) — at Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Arizona Cardinals (3-13; .577) — at Los Angeles Rams (11-4) Cleveland Browns (4-12; .491) — at Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) Washington Commanders (4-12; .509) — at Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)Who are the top NFL Draft prospects at key positions of need for Cardinals?
According to NFL.com’s Chad Reuters, Arizona’s biggest needs for the 2026 NFL Draft are at offensive tackle, wide receiver, quarterback, inside offensive line and running back.
Inside offensive linemen are rarely picked as high as the top 10 and there’s a clear best running back in the class in Notre Dame Heisman finalist Jeremiyah Love, so this will focus on the other three positions.
Quarterback: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Dante Moore (Oregon)
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals will almost certainly part ways at some point this offseason, and Jacoby Brissett is likely not the long-term answer, so that’ll have to be found at some point whether in the 2026 draft, free agency or a future draft down the line.
Mendoza and Moore have their teams in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals (playing in back-to-back games beginning at 10 a.m. MST on Thursday) and neither have declared for the draft.
Mendoza is widely expected to eventually declare, while experts are less sure about whether Moore will declare or not.
Because signal-callers come at a premium, don’t expect Arizona to have a chance at either if it isn’t in — or doesn’t trade into — the top 3.
Offensive tackle: Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Spencer Fano (Utah)
Paris Johnson Jr. has one tackle spot secured for the long term, but with Jonah Williams hitting free agency — and playing just 15 games of his two-year Cardinals tenure — that leaves a long-term spot on the right side open where Kelvin Beachum has filled in.
According to PFF, Mauigoa and Fano combined to allow just 15 pressures across 1,593 snaps at right tackle this season, with Fano allowing no sacks or QB hits and Mauigoa giving up two and three, respectively.
Wide receiver: Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Makai Lemon (USC)
Going wideout could be the move if Arizona is ready to move on from Marvin Harrison Jr. with the emergence of Michael Wilson as a top option.
Local star Tyson along with Tate and Lemon are coming off stellar seasons, with tools that look ready-made for the NFL. There’s also plenty of variety across the trio to fit whichever the desired style is.
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