The Arizona Cardinals‘ chances of drafting a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick took a massive hit. Dante Moore announced on SportsCenter that he’ll return to Oregon for the 2026 season.
That decision very well could alter the team’s approach at the quarterback position. The Cardinals’ best hope was that Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza, and Ty Simpson would all declare for the NFL Draft. That way, one of the three would fall to their pick in the worst-case scenario.
With Moore returning to school this year, that changes their entire approach in the draft. Mendoza will likely go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, putting both the New York Jets and the Cardinals in an interesting decision. Both franchises will be considering Simpson, who has just one year of starting experience at Alabama. That makes him a tough evaluation, due to the small sample size of games (15).
The Jets could make the decision easier for general manager Monti Ossenfort by taking Simpson at No. 2. With that possibility on the table, he now has to come up with contingency plans in case. That likely means he’ll need to address the position and find his 2026 starter before the draft.
Cardinals Need to Address QB Position Before Draft
With a much stronger possibility of the Cardinals not selecting a quarterback, they need to address the position before the draft. That means addressing Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona first.
With a $52.6 million cap hit in 2026, per overthecap.com, the Cardinals need to decide internally before the league year starts on March 12. That way, they can move quickly to secure a potential replacement in free agency or build their roster if they keep him.
A trade of Murray would save them $34.7 million, or $41.9 million if done after June 1, with most of it going to his replacement. If they keep him, they’ll enter 2026 with $27.1 million in cap space.
Should the Cardinals move on from Murray after seven seasons as the starter, there are limited options in free agency. The Colts’ Daniel Jones and Packers‘ Malik Willis headline the free agent class and should have no shortage of quality offers from quarterback-needy teams.
The Cardinals will also be monitoring this situation, as they could capitalize on teams missing out on the top free agents in a Murray trade. With Dante Moore not in the draft, there’s one less viable alternative. That should increase the price slightly.
They’ll likely need someone to take snaps in 2026 regardless, but who they tab may depend on who they hire as the next head coach. A new coach with a new offensive coordinator might want to bring in a quarterback familiar with their system. One such example would be Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who could bring Jimmy Garoppolo with him if he’s hired as the next head coach.
What Should the Cardinals Do in the Draft?
The Cardinals were 1-11 following Murray’s season-ending foot injury in 2025. That in itself suggests potential holes across many position groups that need to be addressed.
The best way to improve their situation is to make it easier to move the ball, whether that’s Murray or someone else. They don’t necessarily need to upgrade their skill players, with Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Trey McBride as the top receiving options. So the offensive line would be an excellent pick, as they should be able to draft the top prospect at that position.
Alternatively, they could look to improve their defense. Arizona finished 29th in points allowed in 2025. There are some good pieces on the defense. They have a decent cornerback room and a solid pass rusher in Josh Sweat. However, the Achilles injuries to both Garrett Williams and Walter Nolen III, two of their better players on that side of the ball, could linger into training camp.
The Cardinals certainly have invested a lot of capital on their front under Ossenfort. He’s had four first round picks since taking over in 2023, using three of them to select an offensive or defensive lineman. It’s not unreasonable to assume he’ll continue that trend with no quarterback or skill player to lure him away.
The most common mock picks to the Cardinals are Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and Ohio State edge rusher/linebacker Arvell Reese. Mark Schofield of SB Nation was the first to post a mock draft after the Moore news. Schofield mocked Mauigoa to Arizona with the No. 3 pick.
Dante Moore’s Oregon Decision Forces the Cardinals to Rethink Their 2026 Draft Priorities