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Top 10 Arizona Cardinals draft picks from last decade

By Aarron Van Buren

The Arizona Cardinals have plenty to smile about according to NFL draft grades for the 2019 NFL draft.Kyler Murray
The Arizona Cardinals have plenty to smile about according to NFL draft grades for the 2019 NFL draft.Kyler Murray /
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Aug 12, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden (44) reacts against the Oakland Raiders at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden (44) reacts against the Oakland Raiders at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Number 5 in the top 10 Arizona Cardinals draft picks from the last decade: Markus Golden, LB, Missouri

Markus Golden, aka “The Junkyard Dog” according to Cardinals color analyst and former player Ron Wolfley. Not to be confused with the wrestler of the same name, Golden has made quite the impact on the Cardinals defense. The 58th overall selection in the 2015 draft has over 100 tackles and 22 sacks with his time in Arizona alone. Most of them came in his second season when he had 12.5 sacks, the most by a Cardinals linebacker in quite some time whose name isn’t Chandler Jones.

Golden did spend a season and a half with the New York Giants, following former Cardinals coach James Boettcher to the big apple. The Giants were absolutely miserable during Golden’s tenure, and according to Golden “Never got the opportunity” to show that he was the man or LB1 if you will.  He was only on the field for a limited amount of time.

He only resigned with the Giants before the 2020 season as interest was low in free agency. Luckily he was traded back to Arizona for a 6th round pick and Golden and fans couldn’t be happier to see him back.

His mentorship to Isaiah Simmons will be a crucial part of Simmons’ development.

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