- Mixed results on the PFF Big Board: Arizona earned a C+ grade, finishing 14th in WAA added. The team reached on four picks, according to the PFF Big Board, including QB Carson Beck.
- Late-round value in the trenches:Southeastern Louisiana’s Kaleb Proctor and Ole Miss tackle Jayden Williams offer high-upside depth; Proctor generated 39 pressures in 2025, while Williams posted a strong 78.5 pass-blocking grade.
All 257 picks from the 2026 NFL Draft have been made, reshaping depth charts across the league and setting the foundation for the season ahead. But draft weekend is only the starting point — the real evaluation comes from how each class aligns with the board, positional value and projected impact.
This class features a wide range of outcomes. Using PFF's Big Board as a baseline, along with wins above average (WAA) added and an emphasis on premium positions, we can begin to separate sound process from questionable decisions before a single training camp snap is played.
With that framework, here's a look at how the Arizona Cardinals approached the 2026 NFL Draft — where they found value, where they prioritized need and how much immediate impact this class is positioned to deliver.
Arizona Cardinals: C+
Picks: 7 | WAA added: 1.202 (Rank 14/32)
- Pick 3: HB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Pick 34: G Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M Aggies
- Pick 65: QB Carson Beck, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
- Pick 104: DI Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana Lions
- Pick 143: WR Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Pick 183: LB Karson Sharar, Iowa Hawkeyes
- Pick 217: T Jayden Williams, Mississippi Rebels
Highest-graded pick (2025): HB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Fighting Irish (93.1)
2026 NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals Draft PicksDraft selections compared to Big Board Rank04793140186233279326372HBJeremiyah LovePICK · RANK3GChase BisontisRANK48PICK34QBCarson BeckRANK113PICK65DIKaleb ProctorRANK111PICK104WRReggie VirgilRANK130PICK143LBKarson ShararRANK372PICK183TJayden WilliamsPICK217OVERALL · PICK & BIG BOARD RANKStealBoard rank better than pick #ReachPicked before board rankEvenPick # matches board rankLove: The Cardinals don’t exactly have a thin running back room after restructuring James Conner’s contract to keep him in Arizona and adding Tyler Allgeier in free agency, but Love adds a different element with his home-run hitting ability. His 22 runs of 20-plus yards over the past two seasons ranked third among FBS running backs. The biggest question with this fit in Arizona is whether the team has the offensive infrastructure to allow Love to generate those explosive plays, given the number of outstanding questions on that side of the ball.
Bisontis: Bisontis posted a 62.4 PFF grade in 2025 across a career-high 795 snaps after earning marks of 55.2 in 2023 and 70.2 in 2024. He ranked in the 56th percentile in run-blocking grade on zone runs, 23rd percentile on gap runs and 59th percentile in pass-blocking grade on true pass sets.
Beck: Beck enters the NFL with a ton of playing experience, clean fundamentals and a good game manager's mindset. However, his arm talent took a big hit in 2025 after his UCL surgery and could be an unfortunate roadblock to NFL success.
Proctor: Proctor, No. 111 on PFF’s Big Board, offers an unusual profile given his size and level of competition, but his explosiveness and pass-rushing ability stand out. His 2025 production supports that evaluation, as he earned an 86.5 PFF grade and generated 39 pressures, including nine sacks, four hits and 26 hurries. His performance against LSU in particular highlights his upside and reinforces his case as a potential late-round value.
Virgil: Virgil is a high-floor, low-ceiling “Z” receiver with the versatility to align both inside and outside the numbers. While his athleticism is not difference-making, his strong hands and reliable blocking give him value as a depth option.
Sharar: Sharar was a one-year starter at linebacker for Iowa, but his impact could come early on special teams, where he has earned 75.0-plus PFF grades in three consecutive seasons with experience across all phases.
Williams: Williams handled a career-high 1,082 snaps in 2025 and earned a 69.6 overall grade, driven by a strong 78.5 pass-blocking mark compared to a 60.8 run-blocking grade. He allowed 17 total pressures — two sacks, two hits and 13 hurries — across 586 pass-blocking snaps, with just seven pressures surrendered on 125 true pass sets. At 6-foot-4, 320 pounds, he brings size and stability in protection, while run-game consistency remains more variable. The profile points to a pass-protection-leaning tackle with depth value.
Arizona Cardinals: Draft Grades SnapshotGradeC+Total WAA Added1.202(Rank 14/32)Avg. WAA0.17(Rank 9/32)Steals1Reaches4Need %100%Premium Positions3 / 7PickPlayerPosBoard #WAA2025 PFF gradeSteal / reachNeed?Premium?3Jeremiyah LoveRB30.36693.1EvenNoNo34Chase BisontisG480.07562.4Reach14 SpotsNoNo65Carson BeckQB1130.51573.6Reach48 SpotsYesYes104Kaleb ProctorDI111—86.5Reach7 SpotsYesNo143Reggie VirgilWR1300.05568.5Steal13 SpotsNoYes183Karson ShararLB3720.1176.1Reach189 SpotsYesNo217Jayden WilliamsT—0.08169.7N/AYesYes