Arizona Cardinals: Reviewing Last 5 First-Round Draft Picks
By Tyler Olson
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.
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.