The Arizona Cardinals continue to take a hard look in the mirror as their rebuild moves into a new phase, but their latest move is already drawing serious pushback. After parting ways with Kyler Murray and resetting the roster, Arizona had a chance to lean into foundational team-building. Instead, the franchise raised eyebrows by selecting wide receiver Reggie Virgil in Round 3, No. 95, a pick that many evaluators did not see coming.
Virgil brings intriguing traits, including an 8.3 instincts grade and 8.1 explosiveness, paired with solid agility and hands. He posted 676 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025, earning a 74.1 (C) PFSN Impact Metric Score.
On paper, that profile suggests a developmental contributor with upside. But context matters, and for a team with clear needs in the trenches and uncertainty at quarterback, the timing of this pick has become the real story.
Cardinals’ Draft Strategy Under Fire After Reggie Virgil Pick
That disconnect between roster needs and draft decisions was front and center during “Football Debate Club” live NFL draft show. PFSN NFL draft analyst Ian Cummings evaluated the selection.
“The trenches have been a massive issue for this team,” Cummings said. “They didn’t have enough pass rush out last year. They didn’t have enough consistency on the offensive line and we’re out here taking the wide receiver Reggie Virgil.”
That critique cuts to the core of Arizona’s current situation. With a new era beginning after Murray’s departure, protecting the next quarterback and rebuilding both lines should be top priorities. Instead, the Cardinals added to a receiver room that already includes Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Kendrick Bourne.
Cummings also questioned the urgency behind the pick, especially given how draft boards typically fall.
“I was a little bit low on him late Day 3. I don’t see the team-building philosophy here.”
That evaluation adds another layer to the criticism. If Virgil was viewed as a late Day 3 option, taking him in the third round suggests a significant reach. Cummings had Virgil going undrafted altogether, making this one of the more surprising selections of Day 2.
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Beyond the player evaluation, the bigger concern is what this move says about Arizona’s long-term plan. The Cardinals are not just adding pieces; they are trying to build an identity. And right now, that identity feels unclear.
“You wait too long, you’re not going to have any more right tackle options for you,” Cummings said. “And Carson Beck, if you’re drafting in Round 3, the best way to get him to his max is to invest in the offensive line.”
That point highlights a missed opportunity. If Arizona is planning ahead at quarterback, whether it is Carson Beck or another option, the infrastructure around him becomes critical.
Offensive line stability and pass protection are not luxuries during a rebuild. They are necessities.
Cummings also pointed to the existing depth at wide receiver as a reason the pick feels unnecessary.
“You have Kendrick Bourne as the wide receiver three. Michael Wilson, Marvin [Harrison] Jr., I don’t think you need to go this route this early.”
For a team still searching for consistency, doubling down on a non-premium need raises questions about value and timing. Virgil’s athletic traits and flashes of production give him a path to contributing, but the broader context makes this pick difficult to justify.
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“I think you need to play the value of the board. It wasn’t there to me.”
That final assessment sums it all up. For a team in rebuilding mode, this draft should have laid a foundation, but the Cardinals made a move that feels out of sync with both their roster and the board.
