Talk of the 2025 NFL draft was an afterthought for the Arizona Cardinals among fans because they were in first place in the NFC West. Teams projected to make the playoffs don’t have their place in the NFL draft order set until the postseason.
But after three consecutive losses, they have fallen out of the NFC playoff picture and are moving up in the 2025 NFL draft order.
After their most recent loss, a 30-18 defeat at home to the Seattle Seahawks, they are 6-7 and now, if the season ended today, would have the 16th pick.
The loss moved them up two spots from No. 18, where they stood last week, the lowest non-playoff team pick in the first round.
Obviously, ending up in the top 18 (all the non-playoff teams) would be disappointing after winning four straight games and looking like they had control of the NFC West, but that is what happens.
Here are the last five players selected No. 16 overall in the NFL draft.
- 2024: DL 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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