Cardinals sit in middle 1st round of NFL draft after being eliminated from contention

The Arizona Cardinals were eliminated from playoff and division contention on Sunday when they lost to the Carolina Panthers 36-30 in overtime. That means the NFL draft and their place in the draft order come more to the forefront.

While they were leading the division, their place in the order was uncertain. Now it will be in the first 18.

After Week 16, the Cardinals currently hold the 16th pick in the draft.

Here is how the 2025 NFL draft order looks right now, through the first 18 picks:

1. New York Giants
2. New England Patriots
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Cleveland Browns
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Las Vegas Raiders
7. New York Jets
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Chicago Bears
10. New Orleans Saints
11. San Francisco 49ers
12. Miami Dolphins
13. Cincinnati Bengals
14. Dallas Cowboys
15. Indianapolis Colts
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Seattle Seahawks
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Panthers actually dropped four slots by beating the Cardinals.

Who has been selected No. 16 overall in recent history?

Let’s look at the last five players selected there.

• 2024: DT Byron Murphy (Seattle Seahawks)
• 2023: CB Emmanuel Forbes (Washington Commanders)
• 2022: WR Jahan Dotson (Washington Commanders)
• 2021: LB Zaven Collins (Arizona Cardinals)
• 2020: CB AJ Terrell (Atlanta Falcons)

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