Throughout the history of the team, the Arizona Cardinals have had a shaky Draft record. With the new regime of Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon at the helm, that could all change. A new greatest draft class could be on the horizon. With that being said, to find a truly successful draft for the Cardinals, we have to go a ways back. Fortunately, their last memorable one is their greatest draft class of the last 20 years.
Arizona Cardinals: Greatest Draft Class of the Last 20 Years
With star power, long-time players, and a run of success all following this class, it is hard to argue against the greatness that came from the 2004 Arizona Cardinals draft class. Head Coach Dennis Green and General Manager Rod Graves, trying to breathe life into a struggling Arizona franchise, changed everything about how drafting was done in the organization. Pushing for star power, the draft board was no longer done by individual player grades and position groupings; the simple top-100 prospect board was put in the room. The goal: capitalize on positional needs with as many of those top-100 players as possible. Though simple, it proved effective in its first year, producing the greatest draft class in team history.
The 2004 Arizona Cardinals Draft Class
- Round 1 (3): Larry Fitzgerald WR
- Round 2 (33): Karlos Dansby LB
- Round 3 (65): Darnell Dockett DT
- Round 4 (100): Alex Stepanocvich C
- Round 5 (135): Antonio Smith DE
- Round 6 (167): Nick Leckey C
- Round 7 (202): John Navarre QB
The real shining light of this draft was longevity, with three starters still in the league thirteen years later (Larry Fitzgerald, Karlos Dansby, and Antonio Smith). Drafting high-impact players that lasted the team long enough to make multiple deep playoff runs was the true success of the 2004 draft class. Essential to the Cardinals’ 2008 Super Bowl run and the team’s 2015 NFC Championship run, the class brought a fresh tide of success to the valley that hadn’t been seen in decades, cementing them as the greatest draft class in team history.
Larry Fitzgerald
When people think of the Arizona Cardinals, most of the time, Larry Fitzgerald is one of the first names to come to mind. The face of the franchise for 17 seasons, Fitzgerald is Arizona royalty. With 11 Pro Bowl appearances, 17,492 yards, and 121 career touchdowns, Fitzgerald led the Cardinals to arguably their best years in franchise history. Falling just short of a Super Bowl win in 2008 will also be the most bitter part of his tenure, but the years of success he brought to the franchise will cement him as one of the greatest Cardinals of all time, a perfect fit for the team’s greatest draft class.
Karlos Dansby
Cardinals Linebacker Karlos Dansby (58) – Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
He may never have been an all-pro or reached the Pro Bowl, but Dansby was the backbone of the Cardinals’ defense for six seasons. The definition of consistent, Dansby was a strong coverage linebacker for the better part of a decade. Helping the team on their famed Super Bowl run and wrapping up 633 tackles with a whopping 77 tackles for loss while a Cardinal, Dansby always led with passion and intelligence that guided the Cardinals’ defense to years of success.
Darnell Dockett
Cardinals DEs Darnell Dockett (90) and Antonio Smith (94) – Harry How/Getty Images
Playing ten seasons with the team and dominating all the way through, Darnell Dockett was a monster immediately after setting foot on the field. The one-time all-pro and three-time pro bowler dominated offensive lines throughout the late 2000s. Recording over 40 sacks and 90 tackles for loss as a Cardinal, Dockett will forever be remembered as a franchise great.
With some of the most famous high school football tape out there, Dockett will always be beloved by football fans, but Cardinals fans will always hold a special place in their heart for the player lovingly referred to by teammates as ‘Fart Box.’ One of the all-time greatest nicknames for a player part of the all-time greatest draft class in team history.
Alex Stepanovich
Although he didn’t have as much success as the first three picks in this draft, Stepanovich was a three-year starter for the Cardinals and appeared on the 2004 all-rookie team with Karlos Dansby and Darnell Dockett. The reliable center is best known for its run-blocking support and for rarely getting penalized. With only 5 penalties recorded as a Cardinal in three seasons, Stepanovich was a consistent presence before Lyle Sendlein came in and helped the team to the Super Bowl.
Antonio Smith
The late-round steal of the 2004 Cardinals draft class, Antonio Smith, was a ferocious pass-rusher throughout his five seasons in Arizona. As a part of this greatest draft class, Smith had 14.5 sacks and 135 tackles as a Cardinal. Rarely missing games, Smith had 16 appearances in three out of his five seasons as a Cardinal. Though his career really took off after moving on to the Houston Texans roster, Smith will be remembered for his intense play and of course, that magical Super Bowl run.
Nick Leckey
A man who defied all odds as a sixth-round pick, Leckey pieced together a nice three-year career as a starting lineman for the Cardinals. In his short career, Leckey spent time with the Rams and Saints after his stint in Arizona. Appearing in 65 games, he called it quits in 2010.
John Navarre
A serviceable backup, Navarre spent three seasons with the team after being their final selection in their greatest draft class. Completing 32 of 64 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns to five interceptions, Navarre only started two career games. He fizzled out of the league quickly after a successful college career.
Although it’s a front-loaded class, the 2004 Arizona Cardinals draft class was full of success for the team. Picking up key players and a franchise legend, their greatest draft class was a major part of the success the franchise saw towards the end of the 2000s. Now, with a new regime and mentality within the organization, Cardinals fans everywhere are hoping the days of mediocrity are over, and a return to the Super Bowl is coming. With Ossenfort and Gannon at the helm, maybe a new greatest draft class will come out of the regime change. Only time will tell where these new Arizona Cardinals are heading.
