It’s a new era in Arizona where Mike LaFleur will be looking to add his first franchise cornerstone to the roster. He will need as many as possible to compete in a division with the reigning Super Bowl champions and two established contenders.
Ahead of the first round of the draft on April 23, here’s a look at what experts are projecting the Cardinals to do with the No. 3 overall pick:
Expert: B/R NFL Scouting Department (3/31)
Selection (No. 3): Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
After hiring LaFleur as head coach, offense seems like the logical path forward with this particular selection. However, an argument can be made that LaFleur bringing the Kyle Shanahan system to the desert should make everything more friendly for everyone involved, particularly after the unit finished among the bottom half of the league in total offense during the 2025 campaign.
Instead, LaFleur can work his magic on that side of the ball, while the Cardinals continue to beef up the defense. Texas Tech’s can legitimately provide Arizona with an identity on one side of the ball, particularly after the organization’s previous first-round investments in Darius Robinson and Walter Nolen III (with Jordan Burch thrown in for good measure).
“The Cardinals needed pass-rush help before Josh Sweat reportedly asked for a trade,” B/R scout Matt Holder said. “The defense could really use some assistance if its 2025 sack leader is on the way out. Bailey is arguably the best pass-rusher in the draft and would be a good fit as a standup outside linebacker if coordinator Nick Rallis wants to switch to more odd fronts moving forward.”
Expert: Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (3/17)
Selection (No. 3): LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Expert: Field Yates, ESPN (3/24)
Selection (No. 3): LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Expert: Matt Miller, ESPN (3/30)
Selection (No. 3): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Expert: Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (3/31)
Selection (No. 3): Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
Expert: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com (3/17)
Selection (No. 3): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Expert: Dane Brugler, The Athletic (3/4)
Selection (No. 3): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Expert: Danny Kelly, The Ringer (3/4)
Selection (No. 3): Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
The Cardinals are in a position to draft the best player available. That will come from in the trenches, whether it’s on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. They need a powerful presence who can give them consistent high-level production on a roster lacking such players outside of Trey McBride and Budda Baker.
