INDIANAPOLIS – Since the NFL-AFL merger – that's 1970, for those unaware – the Cardinals have made the 16th selection in the draft three times.
The results have been pretty good.
In 2021, the team took linebacker Zaven Collins, who just signed a contract extension. In 2008, it was cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who played in a Super Bowl and made a Pro Bowl before being the centerpiece of the trade for quarterback Kevin Kolb. In 1982, they took multi-time Pro Bowl tackle Luis Sharpe.
What GM Monti Ossenfort does in 2025 with that 16th pick won't be known for a couple of months. But there is a lot more in play than Ossenfort's first two drafts, in which the Cardinals entered with the No. 3 overall and the No. 4 overall choices.
"Huge difference, and I hope we continue to slide further back in the draft," Ossenfort said. "Picking 3, picking 4, we could narrow down who was going to be sitting there for us. It's a little harder at 16. The importance of us staying flexible and waiting to see what happens in front of us is there. It adds a few more variables."
The Dolphins, Colts and Falcons are the teams directly in front of the Cardinals in the draft order, for a first round that NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah called "odd." Last season, Jeremiah said, there were about 17 or 18 guys projected to eventually be Pro Bowl players.
This year? It's closer to seven, he said.
"This isn't a year where you want to be picking 8, 9, 10, but I think 16 is just back far enough there is some value there," Jeremiah said.
A potential negative for the Cardinals, who are not looking for a quarterback. There is not the quality at QB in this draft as last year, meaning those picks won't push down as many talented non-QBs. It's thought that Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will both be top 10, but there is a good chance those are the only two chosen before the Cardinals are on the clock.
The overwhelming positive for the Cardinals? The draft has plenty of choices along the offensive and defensive lines, places the team wants to build upon first. There will be options there.
"It's an interesting place to pick," said Dane Brugler, draft analyst for The Athletic. "Knowing this front office, they will be buttoned up and ready to go."
That's assuming, of course, they pick at No. 16.
Ossenfort moved from 3 to 6 in his first first round in 2023. Last season, the Cardinals stuck at 4 to pick Marvin Harrison Jr. but did have discussions to move up from 27 before finally staying to choose Darius Robinson.
Then the Cardinals made a trade with their second-round pick, and the assumption is that Ossenfort will at least explore what trades might be there – changing the equation once again.
"Whoever he says let's do our homework on, then we'll do the homework on," Gannon said. "And we don't know how it's going to go. You're picking 16 and then …
"I'm not going to put my foot in my mouth, but if we are picking 16 right now, that doesn't mean that's where we're going to be picking."
