We do not believe in draft grades, as no one has a crystal ball to predict the future—and players obviously won’t hit the field for a real game until September. That said, it’s fun (or frustrating for fans of teams that don’t draft well) to consider how things might have played out differently in a particular draft.

 

Over the next few weeks, we will be comparing actual selections made by teams in the 2026 NFL Draft to would-be selections using the Wolf Sports big board—starting with the Cardinals. Instead of a grade, some thoughts will be shared below.

 

Actual selections

1.03: RB Jeremiyah Love

2.34: G Chase Bisontis

3.65: QB Carson Beck

4.104: DL Kaleb Proctor

5.143: WR Reggie Virgil

6.183: LB Karson Sharar

7.217: OT Jayden Williams

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.03: S Caleb Downs

2.34: CB D’Angelo Ponds

3.65: WR Chris Brazzell II

4.104: G DJ Campbell

5.143: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

6.183: QB Jalon Daniels

7.217: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

 

Thoughts

We are one of the few to not criticize the Cardinals at all for the selection of Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick, as he was our No. 2 overall prospect—and we believe strongly in best player available. But we did have Caleb Downs ranked slightly higher as the No. 1 overall prospect, and he’d be able to pair with Budda Baker for at least a year before the torch is passed to the all-around rookie.

 

One of the criticisms about the Love pick was that the Cardinals still have James Conner and signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, but the former Notre Dame standout is the perfect fit for Mike LaFleur’s outside-zone scheme. Plus, he should be viewed as more of an offensive weapon than pure running back based on his ability to make plays in the passing game.

 

At the top of the second round, Arizona made another selection we are very high on—as Chase Bisontis was our top-graded guard in the class and a top-20 overall prospect. However, you’ll come to find that D’Angelo Ponds is “drafted” on the majority of teams for us.

 

In the third round, Carson Beck was the pivot from Ty Simpson (who we believe was the undoubted target for the Cardinals despite reports suggesting otherwise after the Rams took him), and the Beck selection feels similar to the Texans taking Davis Mills back in 2021 before eventually getting C.J. Stroud as their franchise quarterback. Chris Brazzell II got the edge over Jermod McCoy for us without knowing the extend of the knee injury, combined with already taking Ponds and Arizona investing plenty in the secondary over the past few years.

 

On Day 3, we like Kaleb Proctor best for the Cardinals as an exciting interior defender, and the Wolf Sports board had four names that will be seen a lot from our selections with DJ Campbell, Harold Perkins Jr., Jalon Daniels (as the shot at quarterback for Arizona), and John Michael Gyllenborg.