5 Arizona Cardinals who exceeded their draft expectations
By Sion Fawkes
Larry Centers – FB (1990)
The Phoenix Cardinals drafted Larry Centers in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL Draft, and he made quite a name for himself as a fullback for nine seasons in the desert. Coming from a tiny school called Stephen F. Austin and playing a position that has since gone by the wayside, Centers became one of the league’s last highly-productive fullbacks to date.
Yet while he was never well-known for his running skills, Centers found his niche in the passing game. From 1990 to 1998, he logged 535 receptions, including 101 grabs in 1995 and 99 in 1996. Throughout his time with the Cardinals, Centers earned two trips to the Pro Bowl, and he received All-Pro honors in 1996.
Centers also earned an additional Pro Bowl nod in 2001 with the Buffalo Bills, and he concluded his career in 2003 after earning his first Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots. In total, Centers logged 827 career receptions, scored 28 receiving touchdowns, and he also rushed for 2,188 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.