GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals are forced in a tough position. General manager Monti Ossenfort will have the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, with the franchise’s most urgent need being quarterback.
GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals are forced in a tough position. General manager Monti Ossenfort will have the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, with the franchise’s most urgent need being quarterback. However, the two teams in front of Arizona will take the two best quarterbacks off the board. After the silent benching of quarterback Kyler Murray and his backup Jacoby Brissett going 1-11 as the starter, Ossenfort will likely have to choose one or the other for 2026.
For April’s draft, the 47-year-old will likely have to just take best available, with many holes on the roster. Many mock drafts has Arizona going linebacker in Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick thinks Reese is dynamic and a boost for the Cardinals lackluster defense.
Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Chadwick on what Reese brings to table:
“The Cardinals also need a quarterback, but there isn’t one worth taking here with the third overall pick. Instead, Arizona selects one of the top defenders available in Reese. He’s an impressive downhill defender, as his eight sacks this year are tied for fourth among all linebackers in America, and he has an 86.5 PFF run-defense grade to boot. Reese can play either off-ball linebacker or on the ball as an edge defender for the Cardinals.”
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The All-American Buckeye had 6.5 sacks and ten tackles for loss in his junior season in Columbous. At 6’4 and 240 pounds, Reese has impressive frame that can overwhelm any offensive lineman on his pass rushes. Ossenfort has a history of taking Ohio State players, taking Reese’s teammate from 2024 in Cody Simon last year.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) moves the ball while defended by Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) in the fourth quarter during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
In all three of Ossenfort’s draft classes, he has taken an Ohio State player. In 2023, Paris Johnson Jr. was taken sixth, the following year Marvin Harrison was taken fourth overall. This past year’s draft saw Ossenfort take two, Simon in the fourth round and Denzel Burke in the fifth round. Despite all being worthy at their selection, the third-year Cardinals GM does seem to have a bias towards a Buckeye.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Reese as the fourth best prospect in the draft, behind Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore and Jeremiyah Love. Reese will likely rise on Kiper’s board, as he’ll be able to show off his raw athletic ability during workouts and the NFL Combine.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
Category: General Sports
