The Arizona Cardinals will not receive any compensatory draft picks for the upcoming National Football League draft, according to an announcement made on March 10. The NFL awarded 33 compensatory picks to 15 teams, but the Cardinals were not among them because they added more free agents than they lost in 2025.
This development means the Cardinals will have one pick in each of the seven rounds of the draft, with their first selection coming at third overall on April 23. After a disappointing season, the team is positioned near the top of the draft order. During the recent Scouting Combine, general manager Monti Ossenfort said he was open to trading the third pick and had not committed to staying at that spot.
In previous years, the Cardinals have made significant moves with high draft selections. For example, after holding the third pick in a past draft, they traded down and selected Paris Johnson Jr. with the sixth pick in 2023. This year, experts believe that due to fewer quarterbacks projected at the top of the board, it may be harder for teams like Arizona to trade down from their current position.
The team has reportedly added offensive guard Isaac Seumalo through free agency and is expected by analysts to target a right tackle, edge rusher, or quarterback in this year’s first round. The Cardinals’ selections are set for picks number 3 (first round), 34 (second round), 65 (third round), 104 (fourth round), 143 (fifth round), 183 (sixth round), and 217 (seventh round).
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional football team competing in the NFC West division according to their official website. They host home games in Glendale and serve fans throughout the greater Phoenix area according to their official website. The franchise stands as both an NFC champion from its victory in 2008 according to their official website and as the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise in America according to their official website.
Looking ahead, observers will watch how Ossenfort manages potential trades or uses his current slate of picks as he seeks to improve a roster aiming for better results next season.