In the week before the NFL Draft, there has been an eerie quiet about the league. It seems to be the calm before the inevitable storm that draft night brings.
For the first time in decades, every NFL team holds its own first-round pick. The Cardinals currently have six total picks, the lowest number in the Monti Ossenfort era.
After a masterful offseason of finding quality veterans on cheap contracts, the Cardinals can stick the landing by acing this draft.
Seven-round Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft
Round 1, pick 16: Will Johnson, Michigan CB
Raising Zona has made our love for Will Johnson known. This is a top-ten player in this draft class who could very well be available at pick 16. Johnson would replace Sean Murphy-Bunting in the starting lineup and create a promising trio of young cornerbacks alongside Garrett Wilson and Max Melton.
Johnson has some of the best instincts that a cornerback prospect has shown in recent years. He thrives in zone coverage, where he can drive down on short routes and make big plays. Johnson would be the perfect fit in Jonathan Gannon's defense.
Round 2, pick 47: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State DT
The Cardinals have targeted the defensive line aggressively this offseason. Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Calais Campbell have headlined their free-agent signings. But these moves serve as more of a Band-Aid than a long-term fix. Both Tomlinson and Campbell are over 30 years old. Arizona could still use another young player on the interior.
Ohio State's Tyleik Williams could be a fixture in the Cardinals defense for years to come. At 6'3" and 334 pounds, he possesses the power and athleticism to command double-teams. He shows great footwork and agility for his size.
Round 3, Pick 78: Marcus Mbow, Purdue OT
We've got the Cardinals sticking to the trenches in the third round of our mock draft. The offensive line is passable as it stands, but it could use upgrades at multiple positions. Right tackle Jonah Williams has just one year left on his deal, and neither guard spot is secure.
Enter, Marcus Mbow. The Purdue tackle has played both tackle and guard during his collegiate career, so he could start at guard before replacing Jonah Williams in 2026. Mbow has below-average arm length, so he may need to stick at guard long-term.
Round 4, pick 116: David Walker, Central Arkansas EDGE
Edge rusher is not a pressing need for the Cardinals. With Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, B.J. Ojulari, and Zaven Collins, Arizona has a solid rotation. But they can't let a defensive line class this deep pass them by.
David Walker is a unique prospect. He's only 6'1" but carries plenty of power at 263 pounds. He was consistently able to drive back offensive tackles while at Central Arkansas. The level of competition is certainly a concern, but Walker would be able to take time to adjust in a limited role with Arizona.
Round 5, pick 152: Dont'e Thornton Jr., Tennessee WR
The last remaining need for the Cardinals is at receiver. After re-signing Greg Dortch, Arizona has enough quality receiving options to function. But they lack any consistent deep threat, leading to congested areas underneath.
Tennessee's Dont'e Thornton Jr. would be a major step toward solving that issue. He is a physical specimen at 6'5" with 4.3 speed. Thornton has a severely limited route tree, but his strengths match up perfectly with Arizona's needs.
Round 7, pick 225: Jackson Slater, Sacramento State G
At this point in the draft, teams are either looking for high-upside traits or depth players. We've got the Cardinals filling out the interior offensive line depth chart with Jackson Slater out of Sacramento State.
Slater shows a high football IQ and the athleticism needed to succeed at the NFL level. He could serve as depth at all three spots along the interior of the Cardinals offensive line.