Every Arizona Cardinals first-round draft pick in team history

Arizona Cardinals 2000 first-round draft pick:

Thomas Jones would become an NFL journeyman after spending three years with the Cardinals, racking up only 1,264 yard and nine touchdowns. Jones is most known for his contributions to the Chicago Bears’ run to Super Bowl XLI.

Arizona Cardinals 2001 first-round draft pick:

Leonard Davis was a solid left tackle and guard for the Cardinals from 2001 to 2006. He should’ve never been allowed to leave. Had Davis stuck around, would he have helped give time to Kurt Warner in the Super Bowl when he needed it?

Arizona Cardinals 2002 first-round draft pick:

Let’s save you some time. 29 career games, 1.5 sacks, 44 combined tackles from 2002-2004. He would be suspended for the entire 2005 season for substance abuse and was never heard from again in terms of the NFL past that point.

Arizona Cardinals 2003 first-round draft pick:

Anquan Boldin should’ve gone first here, but Johnson quickly became forgotten with the next first-round draft pick that came in 2004.

Arizona Cardinals 2004 first-round draft pick:

The Cardinals’ greatest draft pick of all-time. Second leading receiver in terms of yards and holder of many other records, Fitzgerald is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Arizona Cardinals 2000 first-round draft pick:

The ACC player-run continued with Antrel Rolle in 2005. Rolle was a great cornerback for the Cardinals from 2005-2009. Rolle had some big moments, like his scoop and score in the 2008 wildcard game against the Atlanta Falcons.

But all I can remember of his tenure is how he blocked Fitzgerald from tackling James Harrison on the sideline in Super Bowl XLIII.

Thanks, man.

Arizona Cardinals 2006 first-round draft pick:

The first Cardinals QB on this list to hold out of training camp, Leinart underperformed on the field and was not well-liked by many Cardinals fans. He lost his job to Kurt Warner, who took the team to its first Super Bowl.

Arizona Cardinals 2007 first-round draft pick:

This should’ve been Adrian Peterson.

Arizona Cardinals 2008 first-round draft pick:

DRC as he would be called splashed onto the scene his rookie year, taking a 99-yard pick-six into the history books as the Cardinals won their first NFC West title and division title since 1975 in a game over the Rams.

Too bad DRC got picked on by Santonio Holmes and was later the main cog in the trade that brought Kevin Kolb to Arizona. Imagine DRC with a prime Patrick Peterson and  Adrian Wilson still back there. Man, what could’ve been.

Arizona Cardinals 2009 first-round draft pick:

Arguably the one first-round draft pick the Cardinals had that needed more time, Beanie Wells did the best he could. Drafted into a passing offense in 2009, Wells didn’t break the 1k barrier until 2011.

The big back would not return to the NFL after the 2012 season.

Arizona Cardinals 2010 first-round draft pick:

One word to describe this pick: bust.

Arizona Cardinals 2011 first-round draft pick:

Peterson made his mark on special teams his rookie year, with four punt return touchdowns. Nobody can forget the walk-off 99-yarder against the Rams that stopped a six-game losing streak and nearly helped put the Cardinals in the playoffs thanks to the momentum that it brought.

Peterson was named to eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro Teams, and became a shutdown corner for the Cards before testing positive for PEDs in 2018.

Arizona Cardinals 2012 first-round draft pick:

Floyd had his moments, including catching an incredible game-winner against the Seahawks in 2013. Too bad all Floyd is remembered for is his DUI and then his attempt to brag about how he got a ring with the Patriots.

Floyd didn’t do anything really to contribute to the Patriots’ title in 2016, but he made sure to let Cardinals fans know,

Arizona Cardinals 2013 first-round draft pick:

Cooper never really became a full-time starter, and David DeCastro should’ve been the pick. Cooper was traded for Chandler Jones.

Arizona Cardinals 2014 first-round draft pick:

Bucannon may have been decent if the Cardinals didn’t try to use him as a middle linebacker at 220 pounds. Somehow, he won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. This was a terrible pick.

Arizona Cardinals 2015 first-round draft pick:

A near-bust until 2019, Humphries has turned it around but still has a ton of room to improve.

Arizona Cardinals 2016 first-round draft pick:

This pick started the downfall of the mid-2010s Cardinals. Nkemdiche had character issues that never really gave the best impression, and was a terrible pick for the Cardinals. 4.5 sacks and 44 tackles are atrocious production in three years.

Arizona Cardinals 2017 first-round draft pick:

This should’ve been anyone else. Not another small-school linebacker that the Cardinals were going to try and press onto the fans as an acceptable pick.

Reddick was lucky that they played the Giants in 2019 where he had five sacks in one game, otherwise Reddick’s career may look very different now.

Arizona Cardinals 2018 first-round draft pick:

Rosen was the wrong choice. But he did beat Aaron Rodgers and fired Mike McCarthy for Packers fans. I got to attend that game, and that was awesome.

Arizona Cardinals 2019 first-round draft pick:

This was a controversial pick then as much as it is now. Yes, Murray has elevated the team and ended their playoff drought, but can he stay healthy and not dwindle in the second half to the season?

Arizona Cardinals 2020 first-round draft pick:

Simmons struggled his rookie year, but that was due to the pandemic. Simmons has made big plays over the course of his career to show that he was the right pick in the 2020 draft.

Arizona Cardinals 2021 first-round draft pick:

Another small-school linebacker that is struggling. Collins faces a huge test this year to show if he really is the MLB of the future for the Cardinals.