LOS ANGELES — Technically, the last time the Cardinals had the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft, they traded down in 2023, the first year of GM Monti Ossenfort.
But the last time the team selected at that spot, they couldn’t have done it better, taking wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2004. The same Fitzgerald who has a good chance to be selected for the Hall of Fame in about a month.
That’s the backdrop the Cardinals will have this offseason, after their 3-14 record left them with the third overall pick in April’s draft, according to tankathon.com.
The last five No. 3 overall picks in the NFL have been:
Giants OLB Abdul Carter, 2025
Patriots QB Drake Maye, 2024
Texans OLB Will Anderson, 2023
Texans CB Derek Stingley, 2022
49ers QB Trey Lance, 2021
In 2023, of course, Ossenfort parlayed the third pick into multiple choices, ultimately moving back to No. 6 to choose tackle Paris Johnson Jr.