The Arizona Cardinals look set for a difficult 2026 campaign, but it could come with an opportunity to turn the franchise around.Arizona are rated as underdogs in every single game this season, and in a division with three Super Bowl contenders.The Cardinals look set for a tough 2026 campaignGettySuper Bowl favorites Los Angeles Rams, defending champions Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers make up the loaded NFC West, which has been branded the toughest division in football.With all that in the background, the Cardinals are currently projected as favorites to earn the No.1 pick in a 2027 loaded draft class, particularly at the quarterback position.The pack of impressive prospects is led by Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Oregon signallcaller Dante Moore, both who didn’t declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.NFL Weekly Newsletter - SIGN UP!talkSPORT is your home for NFL in the UK as we launch our biggest year of coverage yet!2026 promises to be an epic year for NFL on talkSPORT – and we want you to join us for the ride.MORE INFO & SIGN-UP HERE!This season will be our biggest ever with live commentary of 90+ games, including behind-the-scenes access to international games and all three London fixtures, plus bumper coverage of Super Bowl 61 at SoFi Stadium.Exclusive interviews, hard-hitting opinion, latest front-office drama and top breaking news – all delivered straight to your inbox each week.Plenty of mock drafts have the Cardinals selecting Manning with the No.1 pick, but that also raises a question over this year’s selections – particularly their third round pick.Carson Back dazzled in his first preseason outing, raising the way too early projection that the long term solution under center could already be on the roster. That could be a problem with the talent coming down the pike in 10 months time.“I’m not sure why the Cards spent an early third-round pick on Carson Beck,” wrote Athlon Sports Luke Easterling.“(I’ll have to see more than one impressive preseason outing to be convinced), given the fact they could easily land this pick.” [They have] a rebuild-level roster and are buried at the bottom of one of the league’s toughest divisions. “If they do end up in this spot, and Manning has the season we all expect, Arizona could land a true franchise passer with the talent and potential to eventually turn the team’s fortunes around.”Arizona will play six games against their NFC West opponents, considered the hardest division in the NFLGettyThe Cardinals have been tipped to select Manning in a way-to-early mock draftGettyManning, the nephew of NFL greats Eli and Payton, starred with the Texas Longhorns in 2025 and will enter the league with high expectations, whenever that may be…Manning might not declare for 2027 NFL DraftManning tossed 3,163 yards, 26 passing TDs, seven picks and 10 rushing scores, and won Citrus Bowl MVP against Michigan.He opted to return to the Longhorns for one more season, but longtime draft analyst Todd McShay doesn’t think he is guaranteed to declare for 2027.“With the support that he has around him at Texas – his family, etc. – this guy, if he puts it together this year, or maybe next year. No one’s talking about that,” McShay said.“I spent a lot of time with Archie, Cooper. Spent time down in the Thibodaux, La., talking to the Manning family. “Like, the 2027 NFL Draft is not, by any stretch, a guarantee that Arch is going to be in it. So that’ll be an interesting storyline.Whether Manning chooses to enter the 2027 draft or stay in through his senior year, it’s a decision could completely reshape Arizona’s long-term timeline.It is not guaranteed that Manning will declare for the 2027 draftGettyArizona will use 2026 to evaluate Beck, who impressed in his NFL debut, before deciding their 2027 strategy, whether Manning is in our out.