It was noted on the first night of the 2023 NFL draft that the Arizona Cardinals’ first-round pick, offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr., was not the first in his family to be drafted by the Cardinals.
His father was drafted in the fifth round in 1999 as a defensive back, although he never ended up playing an NFL game.
Johnson wasn’t the only draft pick with family connections to the team.
Quarterback Clayton Tune, selected by Arizona in the fifth round, also has a family connection.
In fact, his great-great uncle was the first-ever player drafted by the Cardinals.
Cardinals take Houston QB Clayton Tune in the 5th round.
Tune's great-great uncle was Jim Lawrence, a back from TCU who was the *first-ever* Cardinals draft pick.
Lawrence (pictured below) was the 5th overall pick in the NFL's inaugural draft of 1936. pic.twitter.com/frKFbXSRmD— Mark Dalton (@CardsMarkD) April 29, 2023
Tune’s great-great uncle (the sibling of one of Tune’s great grandparents) was Jim Lawrence, a running back out of TCU. In 1936, the first NFL draft, the Cardinals used their first selection to draft Lawrence.
He played for the Chicago Cardinals from 1936-1939. In his career, he had 357 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
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