Charlie Campbell
Cardinals Rookie Forecast 2026
Solid Starter
Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M – Round 2 
The Cardinals have been plagued by offensive line issues over the past few seasons, and Bisontis could be a plug-and-play starter for them at right guard. Arizona was fortunate to land Bisontis as he looks ready to compete immediately. Last season, Arizona had one of the worst rushing offenses in the NFL, but that could change quickly. With Jeremiyah Love in the first round and Bisontis in the second, the Cardinals look much more capable and talented in the ground game.
Bisontis was a quality pass protector during his collegiate career. He uses his strength and balance to sustain blocks to neutralize second efforts. With enough athleticism and quickness, he can mirror speed rushers, and he has the strength to anchor. He could use development with handling counter moves and getting in a better position to not allow rushers to get on his edges. Bisontis has short arms that have some limitations for him to work through as well.
In the ground game, Bisontis has good size and strength to tie up defenders. He has the size and power to drive block and will push defenders out of their gap. Off the snap, Bisontis is physical and nasty; he projects to have power run-blocking potential. Bisontis is agile and athletic enough as a blocker who is very good at pulling or moving in space on zone stretch runs. As an interior run blocker, Bisontis can fit into a zone or power man scheme.
The Cardinals have very little in the form of competition, and Bisontis looks like a day 1 starter. After some development, I think he could become a solid starter for Arizona by the second half of his rookie season.
2025: Walter Nolen, DT
2024: Darius Robinson, DT
2023: B.J. Ojulari, OLB
2022: Cameron Thomas, DE
2021: Rondale Moore, WR
2020: Josh Jones, OT
2019: Zach Allen, DE
2018: Christian Kirk, WR
2017: Budda Baker, S
2016: Evan Boehm, C
2015: Markus Golden, LB
2014: Deone Bucannon, S
2013: Kevin Minter, LB
Most Likely To Bust
Carson Beck, QB, Miami – Round 3 
After his three years as a starter at big-time college football programs, it was definitely clear that Beck had the skill set to be an NFL starter. Beck has a power arm capable of making all the throws for the next level. With ease, arm strength, Beck can really spin the ball, capable of firing some fastballs downfield. He has no struggles pushing the ball vertically and firing lasers into the intermediate part of the field. When Beck has time in the pocket and his receivers are getting separation, Beck can shred a defense and rip the ball down the field in a hurry. Beck works through his progressions and shows good field vision from a clean pocket.
While Beck can be deadly, he is a feast-or-famine quarterback. When everything is going well, Beck is tough to beat. However, Beck really struggles under pressure. He showed some improved ability to maintain his composure with Miami, but he still can get rattled by the pass rush. When the pressure is high and a defense is getting after him, Beck’s accuracy can fall apart along with his decision-making. He can have issues completing passes, seeing the field, getting panicky in the pocket, and is prone to turning the ball over.
As is common with many power arm quarterbacks, Beck has some issues with throwing touch passes and is inclined to throw a laser rather than lofting a pass. Beck has some mobility, but he will not be a running or dual-threat quarterback in the NFL.
The Cardinals need a franchise quarterback to emerge and replace Kyler Murray, but I think Beck’s lack of poise and propensity to get rattled under pressure will lead to him being a backup only in the NFL.
2025: Cody Simon, LB
2024: Tip Reiman, TE
2023: Garrett Williams, CB
2022: Myjai Sanders, DE
2021: Marco Wilson, CB
2020: Leki Fotu, DT
2019: Kyler Murray, QB
2018: Mason Cole, C
2017: Haason Reddick, LB
2016: Robert Nkemdiche, DL
2015: D.J. Humphries, OT
2014: Kareem Martin, DE
2013: Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S
Potential Boom Pick
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame – Round 1 
While the Cardinals had bigger needs on their roster, they followed their board and landed perhaps the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft. Love was too good to pass on, and he could be an instant impact player for Arizona.
For the NFL, Love could be a bell-cow back that is the engine of a potent rushing attack. Love is a strong back who has the power to push the pile and pick up yards after contact. He has outstanding contact balance to maintain his feet while getting hit, and that leads to defenses needing multiple hits on him to get him to the turf. Love has good vision to go along with an impressive, natural feel as a runner. Love has the speed to hit the hole before it closes and good top-end speed to break off long runs. His explosiveness can be seen in his ability to hurdle and leap over tacklers at the second level. Love is a threat to rip off long runs and take any carry to the end zone.
Along with having power and speed, Love has excellent elusiveness and is a creative runner. He sets defenders up with false angles and uses impressive moves in the open field to dodge tacklers. Love is a physical downhill runner with excellent vision, patience, and dynamic cutting ability. With smooth athleticism and stop-start ability, Love is special with his ability to weave through defenses. Love shows serious power to pick up yards after contact and is capable of creating on his own.
Love also functions well in the passing game. He is a nice outlet receiver with quality hands and is dangerous in the open field. In 2025, he looked improved and was a dangerous receiver. Love showed improved route-running, soft hands, and made some acrobatic catches with impressive athleticism to adjust to the ball. Love was also phenomenal in pass protection, showing the ability to protect his quarterback on blitz protection. He was very good at diagnosing the blitz and squaring up defenders to give his quarterback time to get the ball out. Team sources say that Love is a good kid, and his intangibles are excellent. He is soft-spoken and very smart. Some team sources graded Love similarly to Saquon Barkley coming out of Penn State.
Love will be the starter and could be a devastating back in Arizona. The Cardinals have some dangerous receiving weapons with Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, and Marvin Harrison Jr.. They will keep safeties honest and Love could dominate a weak tackle box. I think Love is going to be a future Pro Bowler and boom pick for Arizona.
2025: Will Johnson, CB
2024: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
2023: Paris Johnson, OT
2022: Trey McBride, TE
2021: Zaven Collins, LB
2020: Isaiah Simmons, LB
2019: Byron Murphy, CB
2018: Josh Rosen, QB
2017: Chad Williams, WR
2016: Brandon Williams, CB
2015: David Johnson, RB
2014: Troy Niklas, TE
2013: Jonathan Cooper, G
Future Depth Player
Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech – Round 5 
The Cardinals have good veteran talent at wide receiver, but Virgil was a nice depth selection on the final day of the draft. He flashed an ability to get open and create some big plays for the Red Raiders last year. While Virgil may never develop into being a starter, he could turn into a solid fourth or fifth receiver that is able to contribute as a rotational backup.
2025: Jordan Burch, DE
2024: Trey Benson, RB
2023: Clayton Tune, QB
2022: Keontay Ingram, RB
2021: Victor Dimukeje, DE
2020: Eno Benjamin, RB
2019: Deionte Thompson, S
2018: Chase Edmonds, RB
2017: Will Holden, OT
2016: Harlan Miller, CB
2015: Rodney Gunter, DT
2014: Ed Stinson, DE
2013: Ryan Swope, WR
Walt