Breaking down the worst draft picks ever in Arizona Cardinals history
By Sion Fawkes
The Arizona Cardinals have had some horrific draft hauls over the years, so let’s break down their 10 worst draft picks since moving to the desert.
The Arizona Cardinals are a historically losing franchise, and that trend has continued during their time in the desert. Poor drafting has been responsible for such poor on-field performances over the years, especially in the first round.
So when it came to concocting a list of the worst draft picks in team history since the franchise landed in the desert in 1988, there were a lot of back-and-fourths. But we got there in the end.
Before we dive into the madness, check out the criteria required for “earning” a spot on the list. Each player mentioned in the following slides must have been:
- A first-round draft pick
- Selection process only based on career with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals
That said, a few players listed enjoyed solid NFL careers, but they didn’t happen in the desert. So without further ado, let’s explore the 10 worst draft picks in Arizona Cardinals history, starting with arguably the worst pick of the bunch.
1 – Josh Rosen, 2018
Statistics with the Arizona Cardinals: 3-10 record, 55.2% completion percentage, 2,278 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 66.7 quarterback rating.
The 10th overall selection in 2018 has played with SEVEN different teams in five seasons, and he only lasted a year with the Cardinals before they admitted their mistake and shipped him out of town. The Cards wish they could have had this one back, as Lamar Jackson was still on the board at the time.
Jackson isn’t the best passer and he’s been injury-prone over the past two seasons, having played in just 24 of the last 34 possible regular season games. But he would have given the Red Sea much more to cheer for.