The Arizona Cardinals have amassed an expansive history of first-round NFL Draft picks since the franchise’s inception in 1936. They’ve experienced varying degrees of success in Round 1 across the years, but the high points have been very high indeed. Let’s take a closer look at Arizona’s track record in the first round.
Arizona Cardinals First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
Of the 91 first-round picks the Cardinals have amassed, only four have gone on to join the Hall of Fame ranks, though a fifth may soon follow in Larry Fitzgerald. Joe Namath is listed on the Cardinals’ NFL Draft history, but he never played a down for the team. Back when the AFL and NFL were separate, both the Cardinals and Jets drafted Namath, and Namath elected to play in New York.
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Entering the 2024 NFL Draft cycle, the Cardinals haven’t selected an inducted Hall of Famer in Round 1 since 1969.
2024
- Marvin Harrison Jr. | Pick 4
WR, Ohio State
2023
- Paris Johnson Jr. | Pick 6
OL, Ohio State
2022
The Cardinals did not select in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
2021
- Zaven Collins | Pick 16
LB, Tulsa
2020
- Isaiah Simmons | Pick 8
LB, Clemson
2019
- Kyler Murray | Pick 1
QB, Oklahoma
2018
- Josh Rosen | Pick 10
QB, UCLA
2017
- Haason Reddick | Pick 13
LB, Temple
2016
- Robert Nkemdiche | Pick 29
DT, Mississippi
2015
- D.J. Humphries | Pick 24
OT, Florida
2014
- Deone Bucannon | Pick 27
DB, Washington State
2013
- Jonathan Cooper | Pick 7
G, North Carolina
2012
- Michael Floyd | Pick 13
WR, Notre Dame
2011
- Patrick Peterson | Pick 5
DB, LSU
2010
- Dan Williams | Pick 26
DT, Tennessee
2009
- Beanie Wells | Pick 31
RB, Ohio State
2008
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | Pick 16
DB, Tennessee State
2007
- Levi Brown | Pick 5
OT, Penn State
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2006
- Matt Leinart | Pick 10
QB, USC
2005
- Antrel Rolle | Pick 8
DB, Miami (FL)
2004
- Larry Fitzgerald | Pick 3
WR, Pittsburgh
2003
- Bryant Johnson | Pick 17
WR, Penn State - Calvin Pace | Pick 18
DE, Wake Forest
2002
- Wendell Bryant | Pick 12
DT, Wisconsin
2001
- Leonard Davis | Pick 2
OT, Texas
2000
- Thomas Jones | Pick 7
RB, Virginia
1999
- David Boston | Pick 8
WR, Ohio State - L.J. Shelton | Pick 21
OT, Eastern Michigan
1998
- Andre Wadsworth | Pick 3
DE, Florida State
1997
- Tom Knight | Pick 9
DB, Iowa
1996
- Simeon Rice | Pick 3
DE, Illinois
1995
The Cardinals traded the 16th overall pick to the New York Jets.
1994
- Jamir Miller | Pick 10
LB, UCLA
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1993
- Garrison Hearst | Pick 3
RB, Georgia - Ernest Dye | Pick 18
OT, South Carolina
1992
The Cardinals traded the seventh pick to the Miami Dolphins.
1991
- Eric Swann | Pick 6
DT, Wake Technical CC
1990
The Cardinals did not select in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
1989
- Eric Hill | Pick 10
LB, LSU - Joe Wolf | Pick 17
OT, Boston College
1988
- Ken Harvey | Pick 12
LB, California
1987
- Kelly Stouffer | Pick 6
QB, Colorado State
1986
- Anthony Bell | Pick 5
LB, Michigan State
1985
- Freddie Joe Nunn | Pick 18
DE, Mississippi
1984
- Clyde Duncan | Pick 17
WR, Tennessee
1983
- Leonard Smith | Pick 17
DB, McNeese State
1982
- Luis Sharpe | Pick 16
OT, UCLA
1981
- E.J. Junior | Pick 5
LB, Alabama
1980
- Curtis Greer | Pick 6
DE, Michigan
1979
- Ottis Anderson | Pick 8
RB, Miami (FL)
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1978
- Steve Little | Pick 15
K, Arkansas - Ken Greene | Pick 19
DB, Washington State
1977
- Steve Pisarkiewicz | Pick 19
QB, Missouri
1976
- Mike Dawson | Pick 22
DT, Arizona
1975
- Tim Gray | Pick 21
DB, Texas A&M
1974
- J.V. Cain | Pick 7
TE, Colorado
1973
- Dave Butz | Pick 5
DT, Purdue
1972
- Ahmad Rashad | Pick 4
WR, Oregon
1971
- Norm Thompson | Pick 17
DB, Utah
1970
- Larry Stegent | Pick 8
RB, Texas A&M
1969
- Roger Wehrli* | Pick 19
DB, Missouri
1968
- MacArthur Lane | Pick 13
RB, Utah State
1967
- Dave Williams | Pick 16
WR, Washington
1966
- Carl McAdams | Pick 8
DT, Oklahoma
1965
- Joe Namath* | Pick 12
QB, Alabama
Namath did not play for the Cardinals franchise.
1964
- Ken Kortas | Pick 9
DT, Louisville
1963
- Jerry Stovall | Pick 2
DB, LSU - Don Brumm | Pick 13
DE, Purdue
1962
- Fate Echols | Pick 6
OT, Northwestern - Irv Goode | Pick 12
G, Kentucky
1961
- Ken Rice | Pick 8
OT, Auburn
1960
- George Izo | Pick 2
QB, Notre Dame
1959
- Billy Stacy | Pick 3
DB, Mississippi State
1958
- King Hill | Pick 1
QB, Rice - John David Crow | Pick 2
HB, Texas A&M
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1957
- Jerry Tubbs | Pick 10
LB, Oklahoma
1956
- Joe Childress | Pick 7
HB, Auburn
1955
- Max Boydston | Pick 2
TE, Oklahoma
1954
- Lamar McHan | Pick 2
QB, Arkansas
1953
- Johnny Olszewski | Pick 4
FB, California
1952
- Ollie Matson* | Pick 3
RB, San Francisco
1951
- Jerry Groom | Pick 6
DT, Notre Dame
1950
The Cardinals traded the ninth pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
1949
- Bill Fischer | Pick 10
OT, Notre Dame
1948
- Jim Spavital | Pick 11
FB, Oklahoma State
1947
- Tex Coulter | Pick 7
OT, Army
1946
- Dub Jones | Pick 2
RB, LSU
1945
- Charley Trippi* | Pick 1
HB, Georgia
1944
- Pat Harder | Pick 2
FB, Wisconsin
1943
- Glenn Dobbs | Pick 3
RB, Tulsa
1942
- Steve Lach | Pick 4
RB, Duke
1941
- John Kimbrough | Pick 2
FB, Texas A&M
1940
- George Cafego | Pick 1
FB, Tennessee
1939
- Ki Aldrich | Pick 1
C, TCU
1938
- Jack Robbins | Pick 5
RB, Arkansas
1937
- Ray Buivid | Pick 3
QB, Marquette
1936
- Jimmy Lawrence | Pick 5
RB, TCU
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
