Arizona Cardinals Fans Grade the 2026 NFL Draft: A Class of High Risk and High Reward
The NFL Draft is a time of hope, hype, and heated debate. For the Arizona Cardinals, the 2026 NFL Draft was no exception. After a long season of scouting, speculation, and mock drafts, general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon finally unveiled their latest batch of rookies. Now, the most important critics have spoken: the fans.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cardinals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. After the dust has settled for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 NFL Draft, we now know what the class looks like. The question is: did the Cardinals hit a home run, or did they strike out with a confusing mix of stars and question marks?
For those living under a rock here is the Cardinals 2026 NFL Draft Class:
- 1.3 – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- 2.34 – Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
- 3.65 – Carson Beck, QB, Miami
- 4.104 – Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana
- 5.143 – Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech
- 6.183 – Karson Sharar, LB, Iowa
- 7.217 – Jayden Williams, OL, Ole Miss
When we look at the class, they got a massive needle mover in Love, they hope they are getting a day one starter at guard in Bisontis, and then the wild card is Beck. Let’s break down what the fanbase truly thinks about this draft, position by position, and whether Arizona is closer to contention or confusion.
The Jeremiyah Love Pick: A Franchise-Altering Running Back?
The first round was electric. With the third overall pick, the Cardinals bypassed elite defensive linemen and top wide receivers to select Jeremiyah Love, the explosive running back from Notre Dame. In the modern NFL, taking a running back that high is a gamble. But for Cardinals fans, it was a gamble worth taking.
Love is not just any back. He is a home-run hitter with breakaway speed, vision, and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. The fan reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with many grading this pick as an A. Why? Because the Cardinals offense, led by Kyler Murray, has lacked a true dynamic weapon in the ground game since the early days of Kenyan Drake. Love changes that.
Expert Analysis: Love is a needle mover. He forces defenses to stack the box, which opens up play-action for Murray and the receiving corps. His ability to turn a check-down into a 70-yard touchdown is something the Cardinals haven’t had. The only concern is durability. Running backs have a short shelf life, and taking one at No. 3 overall puts immense pressure on him to be an immediate superstar. But for a fanbase desperate for excitement, Love is the spark they needed.
Fan Grade: A- (High marks for talent, slight deduction for positional value).
Day Two: The Guard and the Quarterback Wild Card
The second and third rounds were where the draft truly became divisive. With the 34th overall pick, the Cardinals selected Chase Bisontis, an offensive guard from Texas A&M. This was a classic, meat-and-potatoes pick. Bisontis is a powerful, road-grading interior lineman who can start immediately at right guard. Fans generally approve of this pick, but it lacks the sizzle of the first round.
Bold Prediction: Bisontis will be the most consistent player from this class over the next five years. He won’t make the highlight reels, but he will keep Kyler Murray upright and create lanes for Jeremiyah Love. He is a day one starter who brings a nasty demeanor to the offensive line.
Then came the shocker. In the third round, with the 65th overall pick, the Cardinals selected Carson Beck, the quarterback from Miami. Beck was a highly-touted prospect who transferred from Georgia to Miami, but his 2025 season was inconsistent. He has the arm talent and size to be a starter in the NFL, but he struggled with decision-making under pressure.
This is the wild card of the entire class. The Cardinals already have Kyler Murray. So why take a quarterback? The fanbase is split. Some see it as a brilliant hedge—a potential trade asset or a future starter if Murray gets injured or regresses. Others see it as a wasted pick on a player who will sit on the bench for three years.
Expert Analysis: This pick screams of a long-term vision. Ossenfort is looking ahead. If Beck develops, he could be flipped for a first-round pick in two years, similar to what the Patriots did with Jimmy Garoppolo. Or, if Murray’s contract becomes untenable, Beck provides a cheap, capable replacement. The risk is that Beck never develops, and the Cardinals passed on a starting-caliber cornerback or wide receiver to take a backup quarterback.
Fan Grade: C+ (Confusing, but smart if it works out. Frustrating if it doesn’t).
Days Two and Three: Filling the Roster with Depth and Sleepers
The later rounds are where drafts are won or lost. The Cardinals had a clear strategy: add depth, take a swing on small-school talent, and find special teams contributors. Here’s how they fared in the eyes of the fans.
4.104 – Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana: This is a classic small-school flier. Proctor is a raw, powerful defensive tackle who dominated lower-level competition. He is a project, but he has the size and motor to become a rotational player. Fans are cautiously optimistic. The Cardinals need interior pressure, and Proctor could be a steal if he adjusts to the NFL speed. Grade: B-
5.143 – Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech: Virgil is a speedster with great hands. He is a slot receiver who can stretch the field and work the middle of the field. With the departure of some veteran receivers, Virgil has a clear path to the roster as a fourth or fifth option. He is not a star, but he is a reliable target. Grade: B
6.183 – Karson Sharar, LB, Iowa: If there is one thing Iowa produces, it’s linebackers. Sharar is a tackling machine with elite instincts. He is not the fastest or the biggest, but he is always around the ball. He will be a special teams ace immediately and could push for a starting role by year two. This is a very “Cardinals” pick—smart, boring, and effective. Grade: B+
7.217 – Jayden Williams, OL, Ole Miss: A developmental offensive tackle with good footwork but needs to add strength. He is a long-term project who will likely spend his rookie year on the practice squad. Fans see this as a low-risk, high-reward swing for a position of need. Grade: C+
Overall Fan Grade: B- With a Ceiling of A
When you look at the entire class, the Cardinals addressed their biggest need (running back) with a superstar, added a solid starter on the offensive line, and took a calculated gamble on a quarterback. The later rounds provided depth and special teams value. But the grade depends entirely on Carson Beck.
If Beck never plays a meaningful snap, the draft is a solid B-. Love is a star, Bisontis is a starter, and the depth picks are fine. But if Beck turns into a starting-caliber quarterback—whether in Arizona or via trade—this draft becomes an A.
The fanbase is cautiously optimistic. There is no consensus “bust” in this class, but there is also no can’t-miss defensive star. The Cardinals are betting on offense to carry them, and that is a risky strategy in a division with the 49ers and Rams. However, with Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., and now Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals have one of the most explosive offensive cores in the NFC.
Strong Conclusion: The 2026 NFL Draft is a reflection of the Cardinals’ front office philosophy: take the best player available, even if it means ignoring conventional wisdom. Jeremiyah Love is a legitimate franchise running back. Chase Bisontis is a plug-and-play guard. And Carson Beck is the ultimate lottery ticket. Fans are giving this class a B- today, but the final grade will be written on the field. If Love stays healthy and Beck becomes a valuable asset, this draft will be remembered as the one that turned the Cardinals into a contender. If not, it will be another chapter in a long history of “what ifs.” For now, the Valley of the Sun is buzzing with hope.
Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.
