The Arizona Cardinals enter a pivotal offseason after finishing 3–14 and already firing head coach Jonathan Gannon. This is a team that will likely be searching for its next field general, as it is very doubtful Kyler Murray will be back next fall. They also must upgrade a defense that was one of the worst units in the NFL.
Thankfully, the Cardinals do have some ammunition to rebuild the roster this offseason. They have roughly $40 million in cap space and own the third overall pick in the draft, which puts them in position to add at least one true difference-maker.
Round 1 Pick 3: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals had one of the worst defenses in the NFL this season, allowing over 28 points per game. They also struggled to get to the passer, finishing 28th in the league in sacks. To address both issues, they add the top defensive player in the NFL Draft in Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.
Reese is a feared pass rusher who got to the quarterback 6.5 times this season despite limited pass-rushing opportunities. In addition, he is stout against the run, is a physical tackler, and has the range to make plays sideline to sideline.
Round 2 Pick 34: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Cardinals’ biggest issue this offseason will likely be quarterback. It looks like they are ready to move on from Kyler Murray, and after nine straight losses it is clear that Jacoby Brissett is not the answer. While Arizona would love to land their franchise quarterback in the first round, both Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza will likely be off the board by the time they pick, meaning they will likely have to target a quarterback in the second round.
Ty Simpson out here looking like Tom Brady. His accuracy is ridiculous as he is hitting even the smallest windows.
— John Blair (@johnblairjunior) September 13, 2025
While most people think Ty Simpson will end up going in the first round, I think his lack of elite arm strength and tendency to hold onto the ball too long could cause him to slide. That said, there are plenty of positives in Simpson’s game that should translate to the NFL, including impressive accuracy and a high football IQ. Now the Cardinals just need to hope they can have similar success to the Saints this year when they selected Tyler Shough high in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, a move that has already paid off.
Round 3 Pick 65: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
No matter who is playing quarterback next season in Arizona, he is going to need better protection than what was provided this season. The Cardinals allowed 3.5 sacks per game, and both Paris Johnson Jr. and Kelvin Beachum gave up over 30 pressures. Addressing the offensive line will be a big priority for Arizona in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Penn State’s Drew Shelton is an athletic offensive tackle with high upside. This past season he gave up just one sack and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. While he still needs to improve his hand usage and balance, he has the tools and upside to develop into a long-term contributor for the Cardinals.