The 2026 NFL Draft Is Already Wild: Cardinals Trading Back Into Round One to Shake Things Up

The Masters is happening right now, but everybody who cares about the NFL is already locked in on April's biggest event. The 2026 draft is shaping up to be a monster, and in the latest mock from Yahoo Sports, things get weird fast. Five teams have multiple first-round picks, but it's a team that trades back into the late first that's making the most noise.

The Early Picks Set the Tone

Las Vegas takes Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, and honestly, this has Kirk Cousins mentorship written all over it. The Raiders' newest buddy cop movie, "Kirk & Fernando," basically writes itself. After last year with the Falcons, Cousins knew what he was signing up for in Vegas.

The Jets are desperate after their midseason fire sale, so they go Ohio State's Arvell Reese at No. 2. This guy can line up anywhere on the front seven. He's a pass rusher still tapping into his full potential, and in today's NFL where defenses ask players to do a hundred different things, Reese is exactly what defensive coordinators are hunting for.

Arizona Does the Unexpected Thing

Here's where it gets interesting. The Cardinals surprise everyone by moving into the first round and grabbing Georgia OT Monroe Freeling at No. 3. Yeah, you read that right. In a year when everyone's chasing skill players, Arizona's new head coach Mike LaFleur is thinking long term. They need stability fast in the NFC West, and Freeling has elite upside at the position. He could easily anchor the right side next to Paris Johnson Jr. as the Cardinals figure out their next chapter.

Tennessee goes with Ohio State LB Sonny Styles at No. 4. Think Fred Warner energy. Styles has the talent and the smarts to be that middle linebacker who makes everything click in zone coverage. Behind Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers? That's a defense that could fly around.

The Giants round out the top five with Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love at No. 5. John Harbaugh wants to run the football, and pairing Love with Cam Skattebo in the backfield is a weapon. Skattebo's coming off a major leg injury, so there's room here. If Malik Nabers gets back to his rookie production, the Giants have some real young playmakers to build around.

The Browns Get Creative

Cleveland goes Ohio State WR Carnell Tate with one of their picks. Tate's reliable, versatile, and can play winning football in multiple roles. Paired with Harold Fannin Jr., it gives whoever's throwing passes in Cleveland some solid young pieces to work with.

The draft class is deep and weird this year. Stay locked in.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.