After Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore chose to return to college for the 2026 season rather than entering the draft, the options at quarterback for the Cardinals with the No. 3 pick don’t seem very enticing.
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza seems like a lock for the No. 1 pick. After him, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson seems like the only other potential first-round pick at the position.
However, he would probably be a reach for Arizona with the No. 3 pick. So if the Cardinals don’t go for a quarterback, what will they target with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
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CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson has the Cardinals taking Clemson Tigers defensive lineman Peter Woods in his latest mock draft. Woods was a three-year starter for the Tigers and broke out in his sophomore season. He collected 28 tackles, 8.5 for loss and three sacks in 11 games in 2024.
“Woods is a powerful, explosive interior defensive lineman who consistently wins at the point of attack with violent hands, low pad level and exceptional strength,” Wilson wrote. “He’s immovable against the run — stacking, shedding and disrupting plays in the backfield while maintaining gap integrity — and can overwhelm interior blockers.”
The star defensive lineman was the top prospect at his position coming into the 2025 season and a consensus top-five pick. However, Woods didn’t build much on his 2024 breakout during the 2025 season, and he’s dropped in many mock drafts.
In 2025, Woods set a new career-high with 30 tackles, but only 3.5 for loss and two sacks, to go with one pass defended.
He collected 84 tackles, 14.5 for loss and five sacks in his three years as a Tiger. Woods added two forced fumbles and a pass defended.
Though Woods is a consensus first-round pick, no other CBS mock draft has him going higher than No. 9 overall. But Wilson has belief in the former four-star recruit and thinks he’s NFL-ready right away.
“Though not reliant on a deep move set, Woods’ athleticism, effort and persistence allow him to collapse pockets and create chaos from multiple alignments,” Wilson wrote.
The Cardinals seemed to find a gem in defensive lineman Walter Nolen III with last year’s first-round pick. However, after an injury-filled rookie year, Nolen’s 2026 status is unclear. As Calais Campbell gets another year older and is a free agent this offseason, Arizona could find a future cornerstone in the middle of the defensive line with Woods.
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