The NFL offseason in the summer leading up to training camps always brings up all sorts of lists and rankings. We have an interesting one this offseason. ESPN’s Ben Solak created a list of the best players selected at every pick of the NFL draft, from No. 1 to No. 262, dating back to 1967.
It is quite an undertaking.
Advertisement
The Arizona Cardinals are well represented. Eight of their draft picks made the cut.
Have a look who made it.
Best NFL draft picks at each selection: Arizona Cardinals players
No Cardinals draft picks made the cut in Round 1, although defensive lineman J.J. Watt, who played his final two NFL seasons for the Cardinals, was the player chosen for the 11th pick in the draft.
These are the Cardinals draft picks.
No. 43 overall: OL Dan Dierdorf
No. 54 overall: WR Anquan Boldin
No. 59 overall: CB Aeneas Williams
No. 115 overall: FB Larry Centers
No. 147 overall: WR Mel Gray
No. 158 overall: TE Jay Novacek
No. 189 overall: C Tom Banks
No. 201 overall: G Ray Brown
Another current Cardinals player, tackle Kelvin Beachum, was the choice for pick No. 248. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers but enters his sixth season with the Cardinals in 2025.
What do we know about these Cardinals draft picks?
Dierdorf and Williams are Hall of Famers. Dierdorf is the only Hall of Famer at his selection. Boldin has a borderline Hall of Fame career.
Advertisement
Centers was one of the only reasons to watch the Cardinals in the 90s and he is one of the prolific pass-catching running backs in league history. His 827 career receptions are the most by a running back in league history and he second in career running back receiving yards, behind Marshall Faulk.
Gray was a dynamic receiver and returner (and his son was really good, too, for the Lions).
Novacek became famous with the Dallas Cowboys and his departure in free agency from Arizona started what felt like a tight end curse until Zach Ertz and Trey McBride.
Banks made four consecutive Pro Bowls in the 70s.
Advertisement
Brown played three seasons for the Cardinals between St. Louis and Phoenix, but he had a 20-year career and returned to be the Cardinals’ O-line coach in 2018.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: These Cardinals were the NFL’s best draft picks at their selection