Second-round mock drafts have QBs on Cardinals’ minds

Jeremiyah Love is an Arizona Cardinal, while two quarterbacks and too many offensive tackles — seven to be exact — were picked in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Friday’s second and third rounds begin with the San Francisco 49ers selecting 33rd before Arizona is up at 34. The Cardinals will also draft 65th overall as of Friday morning.

The needs for Arizona begin with the offensive line and quarterback. But nine total offensive linemen are off the board.

Edge is another position of need, but five players from that positional group went in the first round. The 2026 defensive tackle class hasn’t been raided much through the first round, with two DTs selected. But it isn’t necessarily a strong position group, nor do the Cardinals need another young DT with the roster featuring two developing first-round picks from their past two drafts.

What might the Cardinals do in the second and third rounds?

Hint, hint: Everyone thinks a quarterback is going to Arizona soon, and opinions vary regarding when to make the pick and which player is the best option.

Let’s round up some mock drafts before the action kicks off on Friday.

Arizona Cardinals mock draft tracker for the second round

ESPN’s Matt Miller:

34th overall: Miami QB Carson Beck

Is this a reach for Beck? It is, based on predraft rankings of him, but the Cardinals are in quarterback purgatory and need to take swings to find a capable starter. Beck’s excellent play in the College Football Playoff changed the narrative on him, and there are believers around the NFL in his ability as a future starter.

65th overall: Memphis OT Travis Burke

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards:

34th overall: Texas A&M OG Chase Bisontis

65th overall: Miami QB Carson Beck

SB Nation’s Mark Schofield:

34th overall: LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner:

34th overall: Missouri edge Zion Young

The Cardinals were bold at the top of the first round, taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3. Now, they can fill a bigger area of need with a long, rangy pass rusher in the 6-5, 267-pound Young.

65th overall: Penn State QB Drew Allar

Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker:

34th overall: TRADE to the Raiders (Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald) in exchange for the 36th pick (Arizona DB Treydan Stukes)

If the Cardinals stick at this spot, defense feels like it would be the sensible decision. Arizona’s preference for long-armed edge defenders would theoretically rule out the top options at this slot, and the team needs more playmakers in the secondary — particularly with Garrett Williams on an expiring contract and after losing Jalen Thompson. Whether playing safety or nickel, Stukes’ 90.4 PFF coverage grade would be a strong asset from nearby.

USA Today’s Jacob Camenker:

34th overall: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy

The Cardinals had a potential top-10 pick, Will Johnson, fall into their lap in the second round last year. History is repeating itself with McCoy, who would potentially have been the first cornerback drafted in 2026 if not for concerns about his surgically repaired knee.

McCoy did play in 2025 because of a torn ACL but was one of the best cornerbacks in the country in 2024. He and Johnson would form a formidable cornerback tandem for Nick Rallis’ defense.

65th overall: Boston College OT Jude Bowry

The Cardinals need to upgrade their right tackle spot to give Jeremiyah Love a fighting chance of having a productive rookie season. Bowry is a high-ceiling athlete with two years of starting experience on the left side. He will need to iron out his inconsistencies at the NFL level, but he showed his upside by not allowing a single sack in his final season at Boston College.

NBC’s Eric Froton:

34th overall: Missouri edge Zion Young

65th overall: Northwestern OT Caleb Tiernan

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