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.
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
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
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)
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
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
