C+
Arizona Cardinals
Grand theft in the Round 7 slot: the Cardinals steal Cameron and grade out a C+.
by AtrixAnthony ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 2 steals
· 2 reaches
The phones were a trap the Cardinals kept walking into, shipping out surplus on nearly every deal.
Landing Cameron that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.
The Green pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. On the needs board they went 5 of 8, with quarterback the one that mattered most.
In the end, one you will need a couple of seasons to truly judge.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 20 they get protection for the quarterback. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Dillon Thieneman at slot 34 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A tidy little value on Jake Slaughter in the 65th overall pick, a step better than break-even. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Dontay Corleone at No. 92 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Brian Parker II in pick No. 112 is fair value, right on his grade. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A reach for Harold Perkins Jr. in pick 126; a little patience would have been rewarded. It fills a real need, too.
Isaiah World at the Round 5 slot is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid up for Taylen Green at the 183rd overall pick when waiting would have done the job. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They will replay Josh Cameron at pick No. 217 for years; that is how good the value is. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A straight-up fair deal on Thaddeus Dixon at slot 224, value and slot in agreement. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.