Top 100 players in Arizona Cardinals franchise history: 100-91

#92 Lance Smith

The offensive lineman out of LSU played nine of his 12 seasons in the NFL with the Cardinals.  He started in St. Louis in 1985 and played with the Cardinals in Arizona through the 1993 season before playing his last three seasons with the New York Giants and retiring after the 1996 season.

His last seven seasons in the NFL were spent as a full-time starter where he played every game.  The only time he didn’t start all games were his rookie season in 1985 when he started five of the 14 games he played in and started 13 of the 15 he played in 1986.

At 6’3, 283 lbs, a good size for an offensive lineman back in the mid-80’s to early-90’s, he could block and create running paths with the best of them.  He paved the way for guys like Ottis Anderson.

There is a reason he had the longevity he did in the NFL.  Not only did he escape major injuries but he was someone that could be relied upon week in and week out.  Spending 12 years in the NFL as an offensive lineman is saying something given it is becoming more rare to see that from his position.