The Arizona Cardinals are 1-4 in what is predictably yet another lost season in The Valley. Some fans are campaigning for Michael Bidwill to sell the team, while others already look ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft. One thing is clear heading into Week 6: this organization is in need of a significant overhaul.
From a draft or positional standpoint, there's no better way to address those problems than landing a long-term signal caller. Fans know this all too well by now, but the silver lining to this losing season is that Arizona should have a top-ten pick in the upcoming draft. That presents a golden opportunity for them to draft a quarterback, considering Mel Kiper's latest big board includes five inside the top ten alone.
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
Kiper ranking: 2nd overall
There's some Josh Allen to Drew Mestemaker's game, which is one of the best compliments you can give a quarterback prospect. The rare combination of a big arm, mobility, and a 6-foot-3 frame gives Mestemaker all the tools to become a potential star in the league.
The downfield throws should be the most appealing to the Cardinals, who have failed to have any sense of a vertical threat under Jacoby Brissett so far this season.
Darian Mensah, Miami
Kiper ranking: 4th overall
If Mestemaker's star comparison is Allen, Mensah's has to be Drew Brees or someone who had historically good accuracy. An 84.2 completion percentage tells you everything you need to know about Mensah's poise in the pocket.
Kiper mentions his maturity and experience for someone who is just 21 years old yet has 32 games and three programs under his belt. Mensah's accuracy would be ideal for unlocking all of Arizona's offensive weapons. And in the bigger picture, he's the leader Arizona desperately needs to stabilize everything else around him.
CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Kiper ranking: 8th overall
There are a handful of other quarterbacks with a compelling case to land inside the top three of targets for Arizona. Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss even comes in at No. 6 overall on Kiper's big board.
Notre Dame's CJ Carr ultimately gets the nod here with fewer concerns surrounding him as a prospect. Chambliss is a bit undersized at 6 feet, which is something that was previously an issue with Kyler Murray behind this offensive line.
Then, there's the fact that he'll be 25 years old before even playing a snap for the Cardinals. Not necessarily what you want from any franchise quarterback, but especially someone who relies so heavily on his legs as a dual threat.
Carr has a slightly higher completion rate with five more passing touchdowns. He may lack the ceiling of a Mensah or Mestemaker, but it's difficult to poke holes in his well-rounded game. With the amount of weapons they already have on offense, that could be all Arizona needs going forward.
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