Articles by A to Z Sports,Ryan Roberts

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Arizona Cardinals give a past failed experiment another try, upgrade Jonathan Gannon’s defense in latest 2026 NFL mock draft

The Arizona Cardinals are an NFL organization that is in a very interesting spot right now. Head coach Johnathan Gannon has done some good things during his tenure so far, but there appears to be somewhat of a ceiling on how good this team can be. Quarterback Kyler Murray has also been maddeningly inconsistent, and questions about whether he should be the signal caller of the future have continued to come up. It is a mess right now with the Cardinals. Whether Gannon is the coach for the long term or Kyle Murray continues behind center heading into the 2026 NFL season, this is a roster that must continue to get better. There are some clear weak spots on this team and areas of concern that need to be remedied. The 2026 NFL Draft presents a huge opportunity to find some of those answers and plug certain holes in order for the Cardinals to raise their ceiling as a team. In the latest 2-round 2026 NFL mock draft from A to Z Sports, Joe DeLeone and I put together an interesting haul for the Cardinals. It began with a slightly controversial selection at No. 9, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. Here is what DeLeone wrote about Reese and his fit in the desert. 9. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State Reese has been one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2026 class since his dominant debut in Week 1 against Texas. He’s a true chess-piece-type weapon, with the range to cover space and the burst to be disruptive as a blitzter. The Cardinals could use that kind of athleticism. – DeLeone The controversy isn't about Reese as a football player. He is tremendous and deserves to be selected inside of the top ten picks, even with him playing the linebacker position. Reese would, however, bring back some not-so-pleasant memories of multiple failed experiments from the past. Both Haason Reddick and Zaven Collins were tweener players who the Cardinals failed to use properly, mostly. While Reese could definitely play on the edge in the NFL, he also has All-Pro upside as a linebacker on the next level. This is the definition of a diverse defender who brings all the upside in the world. In the second round, the Cardinals once again went on the defensive side of the football. They selected Oregon defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei, who is a bigger EDGE at 6-5 and 270 pounds. While Uiagalelei hasn't quite talent the leap many hoped for, he is still a younger player with upside to tap into. These two selections significantly upgraded the Cardinals' defense in the front seven.