Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals: Reviewing Last 5 First-Round Draft Picks

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:19 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Tyler Olson/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

Evaluating the Arizona Cardinals' last five first-round picks to see how they've progressed and where the team must improve.

First round picks in the NFL Draft always enter the league facing a ton of pressure, and the Arizona Cardinals are hoping theirs continue to progress. Unfortunately for general manager Steve Keim, he only has two of the last five first-round picks still on the roster that Arizona's made with one of those not being his own selection. Both Deone Bucannon and DJ Humphries have proven to be solid pieces.

2017 will play huge as the Cardinals look to rebound from a mediocre 7-8-1 season. Keim has one first-round pick (13th overall) to his name and is in position to possibly use that as trade bait if quarterbacks start flying off the board early in the first.

But let's look back at what Keim and the Cardinals have done early in recent drafts, specifically evaluating Arizona's last five first-round picks.

Nov 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

2012: Michael Floyd

The Cardinals went from having a solid nucleus at wide receiver after a run to the NFC Championship game in 2015 to the group being one of their biggest question marks heading into 2017. The 13th overall pick in 2012, Michael Floyd spent five seasons in Arizona until a DUI forced Keim's hand to release him mid-season last year. He battled injuries throughout his tenure but was still a part of Arizona's passing attack throughout.

In five years, he caught 242 passes for over 3,700 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Cardinals. While the numbers don't put him in an elite category, you can't categorize him as a bust. He had a stellar career at Notre Dame, catching 271 passes for over 3,600 yards and 37 touchdowns.

After his release from Arizona, he signed with the New England Patriots. There he only spent 51 days on New England's roster, got paid $1.2 million and became a Super Bowl Champion. To the average citizen like you and I, that's quite the deal. But now his future may be in doubt as he tries to find a team this offseason that wants to give him another shot at not only being a football player, but being a professional.

With Floyd gone, an aging Larry Fitzgerald and a group of receivers that struggle to stay healthy, Keim needs to find a big-bodied playmaker like Floyd to take over.

Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) celebrates a play with guard Jonathan Cooper (61) against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2013: Jonathan Cooper

Jonathan Cooper was Kiem's first draft selection as the general manager in Arizona. He was selected seventh overall in the 2013 NFL Draft with a lot of hype surrounding him coming out of North Carolina, and one of five lineman selected in the top 10 that year.

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His career didn't get off to a hot start after breaking his leg before the regular season kicked off. He missed his entire rookie season. The 2014 season wasn't any prettier as he dealt with injuries throughout and only started two games the whole season. In 2015, he was moved from left to right guard and started through the first 10 weeks before giving Larsen the starting job once again.

That was the last bit of action Cooper saw in the desert. He, along with a 2016 second-round pick, was traded to the Patriots in exchange for edge rusher Chandler Jones. Cooper didn't start any games for New England last year, but he did get on the field with the Cleveland Browns. Now Cooper finds himself in Dallas where he'll be nothing more than an insurance policy in case of injury.

Keim missed on the Cooper selection, but used him to get a franchise guy in Jones, who was just given a monster contract this offseason.

Oct 30, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) tackles Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

2014: Deone Bucannon

The 2014 NFL Draft has possibly been the best for Keim in four seasons at the helm. While he snagged running back David Johnson in the third round in 2015, he was able to get two starting-caliber players in a first-round trade three years ago.

Originally with the 20th overall pick in 2014, Keim made a deal with the New Orleans Saints for the 27th overall pick and a third-rounder that resulted in drafting Deone Bucannon and wide receiver John Brown. The Saints used the 20th overall pick to select Brandon Cooks who, miraculously, now finds himself in New England.

Bucannon has been a reliable force on Arizona's defense the last three years. Coming into the league at 6-1 and weighing 220 pounds, he projected as a strong safety in the NFL. The Cardinals had other plans, putting him in a hybrid-like role from the start.

He started nine games his rookie season and excelled, finishing with 83 sacks and two sacks. He started every game in 2015 en route to 112 tackles, three sacks and his lone career interception that he returned 39 yards for a touchdown. Last season he had another great year before being put on injured reserve with an ankle injury with just three games left on the schedule.

Under contract through this next year, there's no doubt Kiem will be looking to lock him down long-term in 2018 or 2019. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he'll have his fifth-year option exercised next offseason.

Dec 4, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (74) celebrates a touchdown with running back David Johnson (31) against the Washington Redskins at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2015: D.J. Humphries

Things got off to a rocky start for D.J. Humphries. Drafted 24th overall in 2015, he failed to start one game his rookie season after getting put in Arians' doghouse early on. 2016 was different as "Knee Deep" went from the doghouse to the starting right tackle. In his first start, at left tackle Pro Football Focus rated him high after not allowing any hits or sacks on quarterback Carson Palmer.

Humphries will have the opportunity to replace Shane Veldheer full time on the left side of the line in 2017, granted that Arians feels comfortable with the change following OTAs and training camp. That's great news for a young tackle that couldn't crack the starting lineup two years ago. With Palmer aging and Johnson continuing to supplant himself as the best running back in the league, the importance of Humphries' performance is paramount.

Sep 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) against the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2016: Robert Nkemdiche

Like Humphries, the Cardinals still don't know what they have in Robert Nkemdiche. After sliding all the way to 29th in last year's NFL Draft due to character concerns, the Ole Miss product was too good to pass up knowing they'd need him in the near future.

With little pressure to be "the guy" last year, Nkemdiche got off to a bad start after injuring his ankle during training camp. That, along with maturity issues and a low motor, resulted in him only only playing 82 defensive snaps throughout his rookie season.

He'll have a big role heading into the 2017 season as the hopeful successor to long-time Cardinals lineman Calais Campbell, who chose the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Things started to look up for Nkemdiche at the tail end of the season, however; Arians believed over the course of the season (per ESPN.com) that Nkemdiche's learned what it means to be a professional.

Nkemdiche has to be a factor in the trenches if the Cardinals want to continue having a strong defense.

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