Picking 16th overall in NFL Draft nothing new for Cardinals

Sitting at No. 16 overall, there are a lot of ways the Arizona Cardinals can go this NFL Draft.

For some, that might make your head spin. But for the Cardinals, they have plenty of history picking at No. 16.

A look back at some of the names that have joined the franchise as the 16th pick:

Recent memory of Cardinals picking at No. 16 overall in NFL Drafts

Let’s start from the top, shall we?

Since the AFL-NFL officially merged in 1970, the Cardinals have made three picks at No. 16 overall.

The most recent came in 2021 when linebacker Zaven Collins came aboard.

The linebacker began his NFL career on the inside, eventually taking over as the team’s starting MIKE backer for veteran Jordan Hicks.

But once the new regime came to town, Collins was moved to outside linebacker as the team tried to remedy its pass-rushing issues.

The move has translated to 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 13 QB hits across 34 starts the past two seasons.

There’s still improvement to be made as a pass rusher, though Collins did receive a contract extension last training camp and led all Cardinals defenders in sacks this past year with five.

DRC in AZ

Before Collins, you have to go back to 2008 for the last time Arizona selected at No. 16 overall.

The prospect? A young defensive back out of Tennessee State by the name of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

In his three years with the Cardinals from 2008-2010, Rodgers-Cromartie racked up 137 tackles, 13 interceptions (four returned for touchdowns), 61 passes defensed and three forced fumbles in 48 games played (43 starts). He earned one Pro Bowl nod during his tenure with the franchise in 2009.

Rodgers-Cromartie went on to play for the Philadelphia (2011-12), Denver (2013), New York (2014-17), Oakland (2018) and Washington (2019).

Talk about being Sharp(e)

But before Rodgers-Cromartie and Collins came offensive tackle Luis Sharpe in 1982.

The tackle played and started in 189 career games for the Cardinals, who were still in St. Louis when he joined the franchise.

He went on to play 13 seasons for the organization, earning three Pro Bowl nods (1987, 1988, 1989) and a pair of Second Team All-Pro honors (1988, 1990).

Let’s go way back when it comes to Cardinals picking at No. 16 overall

It’s time to hop into the nearest time machine for this part of the exercise.

While Collins, DRC and Sharpe mark the Cardinals’ most recent No. 16 overall picks, they’re far from the franchise’s only ones.

A look at the five pre-merger picks the franchise made at No. 16:

1939 (third round): Alvord Wolff, Chicago Cardinals OT

Stats: Wolff decided against playing professional football.

1940 (third round): Lloyd Madden, Chicago Cardinals WB

Stats: Rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries and caught four passes for 90 yards and a score across one season (nine games).

1946 (third round): Elmer Angsman, Chicago Cardinals RB

Stats: Rushed for 2,908 yards and 27 touchdowns on 683 carries and caught 41 passes for 654 yards and five scores across seven seasons (83 games).

1952 (second round): Johnny Karras, Chicago Cardinals HB

Stats: Rushed for 42 yards on 24 carries and caught five passes for 63 yards and one touchdown across one season (10 games).

1967 (first round): Dave Williams, St. Louis Cardinals WR

Stats: Caught 162 balls for 2,335 yards and 22 touchdowns across five seasons (67 games).

Home run hits with the No. 16 overall pick across the NFL

The No. 16 overall pick may not have the same gusto as a top-5 selection, but there’s still been some big names taken midway through the draft over the years.

The two biggest that come to mind are a couple of Hall of Famers in Jerry Rice (1986) and Troy Polamalu (2003).

And while they still have a ways to go before reaching the level of Rice or Polamalu, Zack Martin (2014), Taylor Decker (2016), Tremaine Edmunds (2018), Brian Burns (2019), AJ Terrell (2020) and Marlon Humphrey (2017) have more than made names for themselves.

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