The Arizona Cardinals will have the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Arizona’s offense has talent and they are not going to lean towards drafting a quarterback in this year’s draft. The Cardinals are a rebuilding team, and they need to address the holes on the defensive side of the football. Arizona will no doubt have a lot of talented pass rushers to choose from in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Kendrick Bourne speaks to members of the media at Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe, on March 12, 2026.
One player that could very well go in the Top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft is Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. During the 2025 college football season with Miami, he recorded 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, and one pass deflection. Bain is 6’3″ and weighs 275 lbs.
Arizona Cardinals Select Rueben Bain Jr. Third Overall in Latest PFF NFL Mock Draft
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Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) defends against Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Gordon McGuinness of profootballfocus.com created his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft. He has Arizona selecting Bain from Miami. This would be a good choice for the Cardinals third overall. McGuinness said,
“If the draft shakes out this way, then the Cardinals would have their choice of the class’ top defensive players. Pass rusher remains their most glaring need, and that’s where Rueben Bain Jr. comes in.
Bain’s monstrous 2025 campaign included a 23.5% PFF pass-rush win rate, the top mark among draft-eligible Power Four edge defenders. He also brings the versatility to move inside as an interior rusher in certain situations.”
Arizona needs to find a lot of help on the defensive side of the football. They need pass rushers in the worst way. The Cardinals defense gave up a ton of points last season. Bain is going to be a star in the NFL for years to come. They need a game-changing pass rusher.
With having the Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers all in the same division, adding more defensive talent on the roster is a must. They did recently hire Mike LaFleur as the head coach. He is an offensive minded guy, but addressing the defense should be the first order of business for them in the 2026 NFL Draft here.
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