Four prospects who make sense for Mike LaFleur's Arizona Cardinals
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The finality of the 2025 season might have been a relief for Arizona Cardinals fans. After a loss season, the Cardinals are set for a reset at head coach and quarterback. The Kyler Murray era is unofficially over, the Mike LaFleur era has begun, and Arizona can head into the offseason with the upside of the unknown.
It's time to play catch-up, and LaFleur's first offseason on the job could set the foundation for how quickly the Cardinals rebuild in the NFL's most competitive division.
Potential Arizona Cardinals draft targets
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
This quarterback class has left much to be desired, and some fanbases are hoping their team won't be the one to roll the dice on an ill-fated first-round pick. However, with Murray all but off the roster, the Cardinals make a lot of sense for Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, particularly early on Day 2.
Mike LaFleur had to work around Zach Wilson's processing with the New York Jets and found success with Matthew Stafford in his previous stop. Simpson isn't the biggest, strongest, or fastest passer in the 2026 NFL Draft. But he processes the field very well, can operate effectively under pressure, and is happy to test tight windows.
Despite all the risk factors, that sounds a lot more like Stafford than Wilson. And with Jacoby Brissett offering an off-ramp if Simpson's inexperience delays his debut, Arizona has the infrastructure to develop a rookie however they'd like.
Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
It feels like every year, the San Francisco 49ers churn out effective backup running backs in Kyle Shanahan's wide-zone scheme. One common denominator during LaFleur's time in San Francisco was the speed of those backs.
Claiborne -- at 5'9", 187 pounds -- doesn't have the frame to be a starter. Still, he has the long speed to hit home runs, the burst to excel in this scheme, and sufficient chops with vision and footwork in a zone-heavy offense. He won't be flattening linebackers in pass protection, but he's an adequate receiver to be an ancillary option out of the backfield, too.
MORE: Cardinals named top landing spot for $13 million running back in free agency
With James Conner's future uncertain and a host of depth running backs failing to secure a long-term role, Claiborne could have an immediate role in the 2026 backfield, offering in-structure competence with an avenue to explosive plays.
Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky
Likewise, LaFleur's offense will live and die with the run game. Arizona's offensive line could use improvement, and with two tackle spots held down, the easier addition would come on the interior.
Farmer is a Day 3 prospect who stood out in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. His physicality was front and center in pass protection, and he was also one of the most athletic linemen at the event, posting good miles-per-hour marks during the week of practices. He should test well and give teams more reason to buy in on his 318-pound frame and impressive arm length.
There is work to be done before Farmer can easily project as a starter, but he fits LaFleur's scheme well and has a track record of success against SEC pass rushers.
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The third pick in the NFL Draft may be too high for an off-ball linebacker with no expectations of a position change, but the weaknesses of this class make Styles a conversation worth having in the top five.
Styles, a former safety, took a massive leap in 2025, completely eliminating tackling concerns while showcasing the necessary burst and physicality to win against the run. That same athleticism makes his coverage skills an easy projection -- his processing was hardly in question after 2024.
There will be a handful of evaluators who have Styles as the first non-quarterback on their board, especially after he incinerates the track in Indianapolis. For a team that needs help in the middle of its defense, Styles is a plug-and-play starter with dynamic upside.
In the NFC West, defenses need players who change the math with their versatility and explosiveness. Styles fits the bill, and he has an outside shot at being the first pick of the LaFleur era.