The
NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[18][19][20] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[21] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the
NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the
Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are
tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[22]
In 1936, the league introduced the NFL draft after team owners voted on it in 1935.[23][24] The intention of the draft is to make the NFL more competitive, as some teams had an advantage in signing players.[22][24] From
1947 through
1958, the NFL designated the first overall selection as a "bonus" or "lottery pick". The pick was awarded by a random draw and the winner who received the "bonus pick" forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft and became ineligible for future draws. The system was abolished prior to the
1959 NFL draft, as all twelve teams in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.[25][26]
^The Arizona Cardinals were previously known as the Chicago Cardinals (1920–1959), St. Louis Cardinals (1960–1987), and Phoenix Cardinals (1988–1993).[46][47]
^
abAs compensation for defensive tackle
Dave Butz, and as a result of the Rozelle Rule, Arizona received the
Washington Redskins' 1977 first-round selection (No. 19 overall), 1978 first-round selection (No. 19 overall), and 1979 second-round selection (No.42 overall).[61][60][62][63]
^Arizona traded their 1982 first-round selection (No. 11 overall) to the
Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 1982 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 16 and 73 overall).[64]
^Arizona traded quarterback
Kelly Stouffer to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 1988 first-round selection (No. 120 overall) and 1989 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 17 and 128 overall).[65]
^Pick exercised in 1989 supplemental draft. As a result, the Cardinals lost their 1990 first-round selection.[66]
^Arizona traded their 1992 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) to the
Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver
Randal Hill.[67]
^Arizona traded their 1993 first-round selection (No. 4 overall) and running back
Johnny Johnson to the
New York Jets in exchange for their 1993 first-round selection (No. 3 overall).[68]
^
abArizona received a 1993 first-round selection (No. 20 overall) as compensation for free agent defensive back
Tim McDonald. The NFL added an additional pick to the first-round for Arizona.[69]
^Arizona traded a 1993 first-, received as compensation from the NFL,[N] and fifth-round selection (Nos. 20 and 116 overall) to the
San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 1993 first-round selection (No. 18 overall).[70]
^Arizona traded their 1995 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 16 and 106 overall) and running back
Ronald Moore to the
New York Jets in exchange for wide receiver
Rob Moore.[71]
^
abArizona traded their 1998 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their 1998 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 3 and 33 overall), 1999 first-round selection (No. 8 overall), linebacker
Patrick Sapp, and wide receiver
Eric Metcalf.[72]
^
abArizona traded their 2003 first-, second-, and third-round selections (Nos. 6, 37, and 102 ovreall) to the
New Orleans Saints in exchange for two 2003 first-round selections and a second-round selection (Nos. 17, 18, and 54 overall).[73]
^Arizona traded their 2018 first-, third-, and fifth-round selections (Nos. 15, 79, and 152 overall) to the
Oakland Raiders in exchange for their 2018 first-round selection (No. 10 overall).[74]
^Arizona traded their 2022 first-round selection (No. 23 overall) to the
Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their 2022 third-round selection (No. 100 overall) and wide receiver
Marquise Brown.[75]
^
abcArizona traded their 2023 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 3 and 105 overall) to the
Houston Texans in exchange for their 2023 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 12 and 33 overall) and 2024 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 27 and 90 overall).[76][77]
^Arizona traded a 2023 first-, received from the
Houston Texans,[U] second-, and fifth-round selections (Nos. 12, 34, and 168 overall) to the
Detroit Lions in exchange for their 2023 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 6 and 81 overall).[76]
The
NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[18][19][20] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[21] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the
NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the
Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are
tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[22]
In 1936, the league introduced the NFL draft after team owners voted on it in 1935.[23][24] The intention of the draft is to make the NFL more competitive, as some teams had an advantage in signing players.[22][24] From
1947 through
1958, the NFL designated the first overall selection as a "bonus" or "lottery pick". The pick was awarded by a random draw and the winner who received the "bonus pick" forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft and became ineligible for future draws. The system was abolished prior to the
1959 NFL draft, as all twelve teams in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.[25][26]
^The Arizona Cardinals were previously known as the Chicago Cardinals (1920–1959), St. Louis Cardinals (1960–1987), and Phoenix Cardinals (1988–1993).[46][47]
^
abAs compensation for defensive tackle
Dave Butz, and as a result of the Rozelle Rule, Arizona received the
Washington Redskins' 1977 first-round selection (No. 19 overall), 1978 first-round selection (No. 19 overall), and 1979 second-round selection (No.42 overall).[61][60][62][63]
^Arizona traded their 1982 first-round selection (No. 11 overall) to the
Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 1982 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 16 and 73 overall).[64]
^Arizona traded quarterback
Kelly Stouffer to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 1988 first-round selection (No. 120 overall) and 1989 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 17 and 128 overall).[65]
^Pick exercised in 1989 supplemental draft. As a result, the Cardinals lost their 1990 first-round selection.[66]
^Arizona traded their 1992 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) to the
Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver
Randal Hill.[67]
^Arizona traded their 1993 first-round selection (No. 4 overall) and running back
Johnny Johnson to the
New York Jets in exchange for their 1993 first-round selection (No. 3 overall).[68]
^
abArizona received a 1993 first-round selection (No. 20 overall) as compensation for free agent defensive back
Tim McDonald. The NFL added an additional pick to the first-round for Arizona.[69]
^Arizona traded a 1993 first-, received as compensation from the NFL,[N] and fifth-round selection (Nos. 20 and 116 overall) to the
San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 1993 first-round selection (No. 18 overall).[70]
^Arizona traded their 1995 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 16 and 106 overall) and running back
Ronald Moore to the
New York Jets in exchange for wide receiver
Rob Moore.[71]
^
abArizona traded their 1998 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their 1998 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 3 and 33 overall), 1999 first-round selection (No. 8 overall), linebacker
Patrick Sapp, and wide receiver
Eric Metcalf.[72]
^
abArizona traded their 2003 first-, second-, and third-round selections (Nos. 6, 37, and 102 ovreall) to the
New Orleans Saints in exchange for two 2003 first-round selections and a second-round selection (Nos. 17, 18, and 54 overall).[73]
^Arizona traded their 2018 first-, third-, and fifth-round selections (Nos. 15, 79, and 152 overall) to the
Oakland Raiders in exchange for their 2018 first-round selection (No. 10 overall).[74]
^Arizona traded their 2022 first-round selection (No. 23 overall) to the
Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their 2022 third-round selection (No. 100 overall) and wide receiver
Marquise Brown.[75]
^
abcArizona traded their 2023 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 3 and 105 overall) to the
Houston Texans in exchange for their 2023 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 12 and 33 overall) and 2024 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 27 and 90 overall).[76][77]
^Arizona traded a 2023 first-, received from the
Houston Texans,[U] second-, and fifth-round selections (Nos. 12, 34, and 168 overall) to the
Detroit Lions in exchange for their 2023 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 6 and 81 overall).[76]