When it comes to the list of teams would could make a splash for a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals are penciled in at the very top.
ESPN analyst Field Yates recently predicted the Cardinals to trade up and select Alabama’s Ty Simpson late in the first round while NFL.com’s Charles Davis had Arizona pulling the trigger at No. 3 overall (with a caveat).
In ESPN analyst Matt Miller’s three-round mock draft published Monday, he instead sees the Cardinals waiting until the third round and using the No. 65 overall pick on Miami’s Carson Beck.
After missing on Simpson in Round 2, the Cardinals could take a swing at QB here. Beck’s experience and strong pocket play would allow him to run the play-action-based offense Mike LaFleur brings to Arizona.
By the time the Cardinals are on the clock at the start of the third round, Beck is left as the best available option.
Simpson falls to the second round, but ultimately goes off the board one pick before the Cardinals at No. 33 overall to the New York Jets. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar are also taken within the first 64 selections.
Beck’s lone season as a Hurricane saw him throw for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. When playing at State Farm Stadium in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8, he threw for 268 yards and scored three touchdowns to help Miami advance to the National Championship Game.
Selecting Beck could give the Cardinals a potential long-term answer at third-round value, but most likely doesn’t alter the expectation of Jacoby Brissett starting Week 1.
As a result of Simpson not being available at No. 34 overall, Miller has Arizona pivoting to another pressing need at edge rusher with Missouri’s Zion Young.
The Cardinals would just miss on Simpson falling to them here, though they could trade up, which is what they did in Field Yates’ and Jordan Reid’s most recent mock drafts. Young would be a strong consolation prize, giving Arizona a powerful defensive end to complement the speed Josh Sweat and Baron Browning provide.
Standing at 6-foot-6, 262 pounds, Young recorded 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2025, earning a First-Team All-SEC nod in the process. His pre-draft offseason has included earning Player of the Game honors at the Senior Bowl and impressing Miller himself in positional drills at the NFL Combine.
To begin their 2026 NFL Draft, Miller predicts the Cardinals to play it safe with Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 3 overall.
General manager Monti Ossenfort addressed the offensive line in free agency by bringing in Isaac Seumalo and Elijah Wilkinson, but a permanent answer at the right tackle spot still eludes Arizona.
Far and away the most-linked prospect in the Arizona Sports Mock Draft Tracker with 68 out of 182 entries, Miller is the latest analyst to go that route on Day 1. The move also reunites Miami alums Mauigoa with Beck.
With the drop-off after Mendoza at QB, Arizona could choose to stick with veteran Jacoby Brissett in 2026 and wait until a deeper 2027 draft to select their next signal-caller. So this pick can be the start of their future foundation. Mauigoa is the draft’s top-ranked offensive lineman and allowed only two sacks during Miami’s run to the national title game. He is a fierce run blocker who would be an immediate replacement for right tackle Christian Jones opposite Paris Johnson Jr., giving Arizona a pair of young offensive line bookends.
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