GM says Cardinals 'aren't even hiding' they're doing this after hiring Mike LaFleur as head coach

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio is among the noteworthy members of the NFL community who previously linked the Arizona Cardinals with available veteran quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers. 

However, it has since been reported that new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is prepared to have Jacoby Brissett serve as the club's starter over fellow journeyman Gardner Minshew. For an article published on Wednesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US spoke with one unnamed general manager about how the Cardinals are handling their first offseason with LaFleur in charge.

Cardinals already thinking ahead to 2027 NFL Draft?  

"They’re tanking, bro," the general manager said about the Cardinals. "They aren’t even hiding it." 

The Cardinals parted ways with quarterback Kyler Murray this offseason, and there's no indication that Arizona took a big swing at signing Malik Willis or Tua Tagovailoa in free agency. According to La Canfora, the Cardinals plan to have Brissett play "the bulk of the reps...in what will be very much a transition year with rookie head coach Mike LaFleur."

Meanwhile, the upcoming draft class is considered quite weak at quarterback. Just about every analyst believes the Las Vegas Raiders will make Indiana Hoosiers signal-caller Fernando Mendoza the first pick of the 2026 draft, and some think Mendoza may be the only to-be rookie quarterback worthy of a first-round grade. 

"It’s all about 2027 for Arizona," an agent told La Canfora. "It’s between them and the Jets (for the top draft pick in 2027). They want LaFleur to have his pick of anyone he wants."

What Cardinals may do in first round of this year's draft

For a mock draft posted on Tuesday, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted that Arizona will take Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese with the third overall pick of this year's draft. It appears La Canfora has heard that the Cardinals could go down a different route regarding that choice. 

"Multiple evaluators believe Arizona will give very heavy consideration to taking an offensive lineman with their first pick," La Canfora wrote, "and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa is considered by many to be the most impactful prospect available along those lines in this upcoming draft."

It seems unlikely the Jets would take Mauigoa with pick No. 2, meaning he should be there for the Cardinals on the night of April 23.