Every Arizona Cardinals first-round draft pick in team history

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on against the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on against the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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Arizona Cardinals
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Arizona Cardinals 1950 first-round draft pick:

The Cardinals didn’t have a first-round pick in 1950.

Arizona Cardinals 1951 first-round draft pick:

Mark this down as the first and last time you’ll ever see the “MG” position. Apparently, it means “middle guard”, in a 5-2 defense, which doesn’t make much sense.

Anyways, Jerry Groom played his entire career with the Cardinals, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 1954, and left football after the 1955 season. Groom’s only stats were three fumble recoveries.

Arizona Cardinals 1952 first-round draft pick:

The Cardinals got another Hall of Fame player in the first round in Ollie Matson, who was an all-around weapon for the Cardinals, Rams, Lions, and Eagles.

In six years with the Cardinals, Matson had 3,331 rushing yards with 24 rushing touchdowns. He added 2,150 yards through the air and 16 receiving touchdowns.

Matson’s biggest impact was in the return game, returning over a combined of 2900 yards (kick and punt added together) and nine total return touchdowns. Matson had the most return touchdowns in a season for the Cardinals until Patrick Peterson broke that with four scores in 2011.

Matson earned six Pro Bowl Selections and was a five-time All-Pro.

Arizona Cardinals 1953 first-round draft pick:

Nicknamed “Johnny O”, Olszewski spent five years with the Cardinals and have over 3,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Arizona Cardinals 1954 first-round draft pick:

Mchan posted a 24-44-2 record in his career, with 9,449 passing yards and 73 touchdowns, but with a rough 108 interceptions.

Arizona Cardinals 1955 first-round draft pick:

Boydston would rack up 97 catches for 1,328 yards in four years with the Cardinals.

Arizona Cardinals 1956 first-round draft pick:

A career Cardinal, Childress racked up 2,210 yards on 530 carries and three rushing scores from 1956 to 1965.

Arizona Cardinals 1957 first-round draft pick:

Tubbs was the second Sooner to be picked by the Cardinals in three seasons in the first round, and Tubbs only played 2 seasons at Guard before moving on to playing defense with San Francisco and Dallas.

Arizona Cardinals 1958 first-round draft pick:

Both Hill and Crow would become mainstays with the Cardinals for the next decade after being selected first and second overall in the 1958 NFL Draft.

Hill had over 5,500 passing yards with 37 scores and 71 interceptions, and Crow would earn 4,963 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns.

Arizona Cardinals 1959 first-round draft pick:

Stacy spent five seasons with the team, racking up five interceptions as a rookie and finishing with 20 total in his career. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1961.

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