The Arizona Cardinals had slim playoff chances coming into the weekend, and then were embarrassed on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Now, with the Cardinals’ current record and remaining schedule, the Cardinals have a better chance at a Top 3 pick than they do to make the playoffs.
The Cardinals have eight games remaining and currently hold the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Arizona plays the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11 in the second of five straight games against current playoff teams.
How High Could the Cardinals Draft In 2026?
After Arizona’s 44-22 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, the Cardinals’ playoff chances dropped to 2.90% and their chance to win the NFC West division dropped to zero, according to PFSN’s playoff predictor.
The Cardinals are projected to get 6.5 wins on the year, and their chances for a Top 10 draft pick continue to rise.
Arizona currently has nearly a 50% chance of securing a Top 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and better than a 5% chance of landing a Top 3 pick.
The Cardinals’ chances for a Top 2 pick are at 2.50%, just 0.40% less than their chance to make the playoffs.
Then, when it comes to the most unrealistic possibilities, the Cardinals have a higher chance to get the first-overall pick (0.80%) than they do to win the Super Bowl (0.10%).
The harsh part is that the Cardinals have already gone through the easier part of their schedule. Arizona has already played the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Tennessee Titans.
The Cardinals have the seventh-hardest schedule remaining in the NFL. They have just one game remaining, where their chance to win is greater than 50%, and it’s against the Cincinnati Bengals, who could have quarterback Joe Burrow back by then.
Arizona had only four games this year in which their chance to win was over 50%, and they were against the Saints, Panthers, Titans, and Bengals.
The Cardinals’ average chance to win in their final eight games of the season is 42.25%. Arizona’s two lowest chances come against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14 and 18.
However, the Cardinals’ next two opponents are the 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they have better than a 45% chance of winning both games.
The Cardinals have said they will have discussions with quarterback Kyler Murray at the end of the season about his future, and Arizona may be looking for a new quarterback.
While the Cardinals have the highest chance to be picking in the middle of the first round, their opportunity to pick inside the Top 10 continues to grow.
If Arizona continues its downward trend, the Cardinals could have a high draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.