CARDINALS MOCK DRAFT GRADE B+

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Cardinals 2026 B+

URL cardinals-2026-1256

Letter grade with a four-component score, written analysis, and a pick-by-pick breakdown for every selection in this saved mock.

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B+

Arizona Cardinals

The steal of the weekend belongs to the Cardinals and Bernard: B+.

by Stan93 · 2026 NFL Draft · 12 picks · 5 steals · 4 reaches
Value B
Need B
Trades A+
Future B-

If you want a masterclass in dealing, watch the Cardinals, who turned every swap into a profit this weekend.

The Moore reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. However the rest shakes out, Bernard at that price is a win they earned. They will regret leaving tight end for another day if the season turns on it.

Quarterback is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.

In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.

Pick-by-Pick

R1.12 · Pick 12 · Jeremiyah Love · RB · rank 2
In the Round 1 slot they get a featured back, and a steal at that.
R1.22 · Pick 22 · Arvell Reese · LB · rank 7
In Round 1, Pick 22 they get a downhill thumper at linebacker, outstanding value to boot. A clean fit for the roster.
R2.1 · Pick 33 · Sonny Styles · LB · rank 21
Nice patience on Sonny Styles, who had no business lasting to the 33rd pick. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R2.3 · Pick 35 · Max Iheanachor · OT · rank 46
A reach for Max Iheanachor in pick No. 35; a little patience would have been rewarded. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
R2.4 · Pick 36 · Akheem Mesidor · DL-EDGE · rank 37
No edge and no loss on Akheem Mesidor in slot 36; it is a wash and a sensible one. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R2.6 · Pick 38 · Dillon Thieneman · S · rank 35
A tidy little value on Dillon Thieneman in pick 38, a step better than break-even. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
R2.7 · Pick 39 · Emmanuel Pregnon · OG · rank 39
No drama and no debate, Emmanuel Pregnon went about where he belonged in No. 39. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
R2.8 · Pick 40 · Derrick Moore · DE-EDGE · rank 62
They reached a country mile for Derrick Moore at pick 40, and the board is aghast. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R3.1 · Pick 65 · Garrett Nussmeier · QB · rank 79
They paid a round early for Garrett Nussmeier in the 65th overall pick, more than the board wanted. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
R3.2 · Pick 66 · Lee Hunter · DT · rank 48
Lee Hunter in the Round 3 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It fills a real need, too.
R3.3 · Pick 67 · Ted Hurst · WR · rank 89
Ted Hurst at Round 3, Pick 3 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
R3.20 · Pick 84 · Germie Bernard · WR · rank 58
Steal is underselling it; Germie Bernard at pick No. 84 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
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