5 Cardinals first-round picks who did not live to expectations
By Sion Fawkes
Andre Wadsworth
Andre Wadsworth was the de facto top player on most draft boards before the 1998 NFL Draft, ranking higher on many draft boards than Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf. In 1997, he developed into a marquee pass rusher at Florida State University, recording 16 sacks.
And during his rookie season, Wadsworth looked like a player worthy of the No. 3 pick, amassing 57 combined tackles, five sacks, and three fumble recoveries. Unfortunately, Wadsworth played in just 20 games in the following two seasons, given multiple knee issues, forcing the Cardinals to cut ties with him following the 2000 season.
Wadsworth briefly returned to the NFL as a member of the New York Jets in 2007, seven seasons after he played his last down with the Cardinals. However, the Jets released him before Week 1 of the 2007 season, and he never played again.