Raising Zona
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Breaking down the worst draft picks ever in Arizona Cardinals history

By Sion Fawkes

Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, general manager Steve Keim and team president Michael Bidwill (right) introduces their first-round draft pick, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen on Apr. 27, 2018 at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe, Ariz. (Via OlyDrop)XXX RS_48287.JPG USA AZArizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, general manager Steve Keim and team president Michael Bidwill (right) introduces their first-round draft pick, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen on Apr. 27, 2018 at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe, Ariz. (Via OlyDrop)
Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, general manager Steve Keim and team president Michael Bidwill (right) introduces their first-round draft pick, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen on Apr. 27, 2018 at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe, Ariz. (Via OlyDrop)XXX RS_48287.JPG USA AZArizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, general manager Steve Keim and team president Michael Bidwill (right) introduces their first-round draft pick, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen on Apr. 27, 2018 at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe, Ariz. (Via OlyDrop) /
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Arizona Cardinals
Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) celebrates with guard Jonathan Cooper (61) after scoring a 17 yard touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

6 – Jonathan Cooper, 2013-2015

2013 marked a new beginning for the Arizona Cardinals, as Bruce Arians hopped aboard and gave fans a lot of hope. So did Jonathan Cooper, the seventh overall pick that season.

At the NFL Combine, the guard put up monster numbers that included 35 reps on the bench press. But unfortunately, that was basically the highlight of his career.

A broken fibula sidelined Cooper for his entire rookie season, and he played in just 24 games for the Cards in 2014 and 2015, starting 11 of those contests. Despite being a complete bust for the Cardinals, something good came from Cooper.

The Cards shipped him and a second-round pick to New England for Chandler Jones in 2016. And the outside linebacker became one of the Redbirds most domineering forces for the second half of the decade.

7 – Beanie Wells, 2009-2012

Statistics with the Arizona Cardinals: 2,471 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 24 rushing touchdowns, 28 receptions, 293 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns

It’s not that Beanie Wells was a bad player. Actually he was far from it. His best season came in 2011 when he rushed for 1,047 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. And his previous two seasons weren’t terrible, but injuries eventually took their toll and shortened the former Ohio State product’s career.

Turf toe kept him out for several weeks in 2012, and when he returned, Wells’ productivity tanked. He accumulated just 234 rushing yards in eight games, averaging 2.7 yards per carry in that span.

To make things worse, Wells’ relationship with the Cardinals deteriorated and the team eventually released him. He worked out with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, but a torn Achilles during the workout ended his career.

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