The Arizona Cardinals walked away from the 2026 NFL Draft with seven picks, and while most fans will immediately point to first-round running back Jeremiyah Love as the crown jewel, one NFL analyst has a different—and perhaps surprising—favorite.
NFL.com's Gennaro Filice recently graded every team's draft class and selected his top pick for each franchise. For the Cardinals, it wasn't the flashy Love at No. 3 overall. Instead, Filice's nod went to second-round guard Chase Bisontis—a move that speaks to the old football adage: games are won in the trenches.
"After ordering up a spicy dish in Round 1, Arizona complemented that move with a nice glass of milk in Round 2," Filice wrote, praising the selection of Bisontis. The Texas A&M product started all three years of his college career, offering a high-floor, reliable presence. He's expected to step right into a starting guard role opposite free-agent addition Isaac Seumalo, clearing paths for the team's new backfield star.
While Bisontis won't solve the Cardinals' lingering issues at right tackle, he represents a clear upgrade over Isaiah Adams at right guard. And at that point in the draft, the tackle options simply weren't there. It might not be the sexiest pick on paper, but if Bisontis becomes a steady, durable force on the interior offensive line, he'll be the unsung hero making Love's job a whole lot easier.
Sometimes the best draft picks aren't the ones that make the highlight reels—they're the ones that let the stars shine.