Arizona Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager Monti Ossenfort of the Arizona Cardinals speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals are in a tough position for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Unable to select a quarterback due to weak depth at the position, the Cardinals are stuck at No. 3 overall to take one of the best non-QBs in the draft.
Many mock drafts have Arizona taking Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with their pick.
However, according to NFL draft analyst Todd McShay on his April 3 podcast, the Cardinals could go a different direction.
According to McShay, there is “buzz” around the Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and the No. 3 overall pick.
Dallas would be moving up to select Texas Tech’s David Bailey, a top pass rusher in the draft.
What Does This Mean for the Arizona Cardinals?
Dallas, currently situated at the No. 12 overall pick, is firmly out of reach to select a top pass rusher. They also own the Green Bay Packers‘ first-round pick after the Micah Parsons trade last year at No. 20.
Ever since trading Parsons, edge rusher has been a huge need.
Arizona, on the other hand, should be looking for offensive and defensive line help early. The Cardinals gave up 59 sacks last year and got to the quarterback just 30 times.
Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Bailey are options at No. 3 for pass rusher. Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano are the top offensive line options available.
But could this be a deal that would benefit both teams greatly?
While Dallas would get its pass rusher of the future, Arizona could still get at least one top skill position player in the first round, with an opportunity to get both of Dallas’ firsts.
But could they use this trade-down as a way to justify selecting their most important future need?
What Could Monti Ossenfort Do?
General manager Monti Ossenfort is in a tough situation. With first-year head coach Mike LaFleur taking the reins, Ossenfort must get this draft right.
The release of Kyler Murray with no future quarterback on the roster has left the Cardinals in quarterback purgatory.
However, this potential trade-down could justify Arizona taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at 12 or 20, while regaining future draft capital.
While Simpson is widely projected as the second-best quarterback behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, it would be considered a significant reach if the Cardinals took him at No. 3 overall.
It could still be considered a reach at No. 12, but it would be less disastrous for the organization. The Cardinals would get their future signal caller, while gaining draft capital this year and/or next year.
Although Simpson is coming off an excellent season for the Crimson Tide, this was his only year starting in college. Arizona might be better off with a more experienced quarterback.
2027 will present several high-caliber quarterbacks such as Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.
The Cardinals could choose to wait until then to select a quarterback. But if this buzz is real, it could point to them taking a quarterback as soon as this year.