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The Recent History Of The 16th Pick, Where The Cardinals Draft

A look at the last 20 choices midway through the first round

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, here hauling in a pass against Cardinals cornerback Robert Massey in 1993, was the 16th overall pick in the 1985 draft.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, here hauling in a pass against Cardinals cornerback Robert Massey in 1993, was the 16th overall pick in the 1985 draft.

The Cardinals, for the first time in a few seasons, won't be picking in the top 10. But choosing in the dead center of the first round doesn't mean a good player can't be found -- the last time, in fact, the Cardinals had the 16th pick of the first round, they selected future Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The top wide receiver in NFL history, Jerry Rice, was also the 16th pick of the first round, back in 1985. In 1982, the Cardinals selected three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Luis Sharpe at that spot.

With the Cardinals scheduled to pick 16th in the opening round of the draft on April 29, here's a look back at the players who were chosen No. 16 overall in the last 20 years.

2020
Falcons
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell breaks up an incomplete pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
A.J. Terrell
CB

Just last year, No. 16 was spent on a cornerback. Terrell had a solid rookie season and posted an interception, although he was targeted often (no surprise for a first-year player) and has room to improve.

2019
Panthers
Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum (68) blocks Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns (53) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Brian Burns
LB

Burns has emerged as a rising pass rushing star, totaling 10 sacks for Carolina in 2020.

2018
Bills
Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) defends during an NFL regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won, 32-30. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Tremaine Edmunds
LB

As well as Buffalo played in 2020, Edmunds' play dropped from his sophomore season as he struggled against both run and pass.

2017
Ravens
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey walks on the field in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Marlon Humphrey
CB

Another cornerback at 16, Humphrey has emerged as one of the best in the NFL.

2016
Lions
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Taylor Decker
T

Decker has been a fixture at left tackle for the Lions for a few years and has played well during his time.

2015
Texans
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) pass defends against Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during a regular season Week 11 NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans, Sunday November 19, 2017 in Houston. The Texans beat the Cardinals 31-21 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Kevin Johnson
CB

Johnson had injuries to end his time in Houston and has bounced from Buffalo to Cleveland to now Tennessee since.

2014
Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle La'el Collins (71) and Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Zack Martin (70) block as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) rushes during the 2017 NFL week 3 regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cowboys won the game 28-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Zack Martin
G

Martin has proved to be a perennial all pro-level lineman since the day he was selected. Six All-Pro selections in eight seasons makes for a spectacular No. 16 pick.

2013
Bills
Oakland Raiders quarterback EJ Manuel (3) looks to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
E.J. Manuel
QB

A reach when he was selected, Manuel never found his footing and was out of football by 2018.

2012
Jets
New York Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples (98) during a week 10 NFL Thursday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills on November 12, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey ( Evan Pinkus via AP)
Quinton Coples
DE

Coples had 16.5 sacks his first three seasons but never fulfilled his promise as a pass rusher and was out of the league after just four years.

2011
WFT
Washington Redskins  linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (91) rushes the passer in action against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday December 17, 2017  in Landover, Md.  (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Ryan Kerrigan
DE

Kerrigan has 95.5 sacks in his career and missed only four games in his 10 seasons, reaching four Pro Bowls.

2010
Titans
Tennessee Titans defensive end Derrick Morgan (91) runs in pursuit during a week 15 NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, December 15, 2013. The Cardinals defeated the Titans 37-34 in overtime. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Derrick Morgan
DE

Morgan never was a star, but he lasted nine years with the Titans coming off the edge as both end and outside linebacker, totaling 44.5 sacks.

2009
Chargers
San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Larry English (51) during an NFL regular season game against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday, Oct. 14, 2013 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game, 19-9. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Larry English
LB

Injuries and lack of production submarined English, who only played double-digit games three times in six season and only had 12 sacks as a pass rusher.

2008
Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (29) celebrates his interception during an NFL game against Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 in Glendale. The Cardinals won the game, 51-45. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
CB

The last time the Cardinals were at No. 16 they took a cornerback, getting a hit with DRC -- who had 13 interceptions and made a Pro Bowl in three Arizona seasons before being traded for QB Kevin Kolb. DRC played 12 seasons with 30 picks.

2007
Packers
GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 23: Defensive tackle Justin Harrell #91 of the Green Bay Packers runs against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lambeau Field on August 23, 2007 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Justin Harrell
DT

Harrell was a complete bust, playing only 14 games in three seasons and never notching a sack.

2006
Dolphins
Miami Dolphins defensive back Jason Allen (32) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wisconsin on October 17, 2010. The Dolphins won 23-20. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Jason Allen
CB

Playing both safety and cornerback, Allen had 15 interceptions in 98 games for three NFL teams.

2005
Texans
INDIANAPOLIS, IN- NOVEMBER 16:  Travis Johnson #99 of the Houston Texans runs to make a tackle against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Texans 33-27. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Travis Johnson
DT

Johnson never quite found the groove, serving as depth most of his career with three sacks in 76 games over six seasons.

2004
Eagles
Shawn Andrews #73 of the Philadelphia Eagles pass blocks against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field on October 2, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Packers 31-9. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Shawn Andrews
T

Andrews was named All-Pro one season and got to two Pro Bowls, but injuries derailed his career after just six seasons.

2003
Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) walks to the sidelines against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Troy Polamalu
S

Hall of Famer who reached eight Pro Bowls and made All-Pro four times, with 32 interceptions, 12 sacks and a way of influencing every game with which he was involved.

2002
Browns
Cleveland Browns running back William Green (49) runs in a week 3 NFL preseason football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Cleveland, Ohio on August 24, 2012. The Eagles defeated the Browns 27-10. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
William Green
RB

Decent rookie year (887 yards, 6 TDs) but it was downhill from there and he was out of the league after four seasons.

2001
Jets
Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss, right, chats with Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson before an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Santana Moss
WR

Four times a 1,000-yard receiver, he fully blossomed after moving to Washington after his first four Jets seasons, he had 732 catches for 10,283 yards and 66 touchdowns over 14 years.

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