PHOENIX – Despite finishing with a 4-13 record after the 2023 season, the Arizona Cardinals took a silver lining into the offseason, one that had the potential to set the foundation for a new era.
General manager Monti Ossenfort and then-head coach Jonathan Gannon had 11 draft picks to work with entering the 2024 NFL draft, and when all was said and done, the team came away with 12 total selections.
Two years later, that draft class is still trying to provide significant returns on the investment under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur.
Each member is also facing the scrutiny of being a third-year player, which is widely viewed as a make-or-break opportunity. Under the NFL collective bargaining agreement, decisions regarding fifth-year options for first-round picks, impending contract expiration for non-first-round picks and long-term contract extensions can not be made until after a player's third season.
Seven of the Cardinals' 2024 draft picks fell inside the first three rounds. Here is a breakdown of how each one has fared after two seasons, along with their status heading into the 2026 season, which begins Sunday in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
2024 Season: 17 games | 62 receptions | 885 yards | 8 TDs
2025 Season: 12 games | 41 receptions | 608 yards | 4 TDs
Career Stats: 29 games | 103 receptions | 1,493 yards | 12 TDs
It isn't an exaggeration to say "Maserati Marv" was one of the most captivating wide receiver prospects the league had seen in recent memory.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison ended his collegiate career by recording his second consecutive season of at least 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns at Ohio State to win the 2023 Biletnikoff Award, presented to the most outstanding receiver in NCAA Division I.
Envisioning the potential connection between him and then-quarterback Kyler Murray , the Cardinals used the fourth overall selection on Harrison Jr.
Despite finishing fourth in receptions and receiving yards among all rookies in 2024, Harrison Jr. still managed flashes of game-changing talent in his first season. The most notable performance came in the team's home opener against the Rams, when he had 130 yards and two touchdowns on four catches.
However, the wideout was unable to take a meaningful step forward the next year. He eclipsed 50 yards in only six games, had several drops in crucial moments and missed five games due to appendicitis surgery and injuries to both of his feet.
Entering the third season of his pro career, Harrison Jr. arguably has the most to prove out of anyone on the Cardinals' roster.
Although he will still have to contend with All-Pro tight end Trey McBride and recently extended wide receiver Michael Wilson for quarterback Jacoby Brisett's attention, Harrison Jr. is focused on solidifying his role in Arizona 's offense.
"I know if I don't make a play that someone thinks I should have made, they're going to post it and it's going to do what it's going to do in the social media era," he said. "That's OK. For me, I'm going to worry about my process, what I do each and every day to prepare myself for practice, prepare myself for games on Sunday and what the results are going to be."
2024 Season: 6 games | 10 total tackles | 1 sack
2025 Season: 15 games | 43 total tackles | 1 sack
Career Stats: 21 games | 53 total tackles | 2 sacks
Ossenfort grabbed the Cardinals an additional first-round selection by trading the third overall pick to the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL draft.
His wheeling and dealing led to the Cardinals using the No. 27 overall pick on Darius Robinson, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive end at Missouri with 8.5 sacks in his final collegiate season.
A severe calf injury sidelined Robinson for 11 games in his rookie season in Arizona, where he recorded only 10 tackles and one sack. He only missed two games due to a pectoral injury in 2025, but his 43 tackles and one sack turned him candid about his struggles.
"We've only won three games since September," Robinson told journalists in December. "That's terrible. That starts with myself. I'm not who I thought I was."
Robinson is still listed as a starting defensive tackle on the Cardinals' depth chart, signifying that this season buys him another opportunity to translate his physical attributes into on-field production.
"Individually, I know I definitely made strides as (last season) went along," Robinson said. "Also, heading into my third year just knowing, 'Okay, what am I good at? What am I not good at?' What I'm not good at, I got to pour into that bucket as fast as I can."
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (56) looks off to the crowd during their training camp red and white practice at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Aug. 9, 2026.
2024 Season: 17 games | 51 total tackles | 0 interceptions
2025 Season: 10 games | 31 total tackles | 0 interceptions
Career Stats: 27 games | 82 total tackles | 0 interceptions
The Cardinals traded down from No. 35 overall to No. 43 overall in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons , eventually drafting Rutgers cornerback Max Melton. Pro Bowl cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Kamari Lassiter were taken No. 40 and No. 42, respectively.
In three starts and 565 snaps in 17 games on both defense and special teams, Melton recorded 51 tackles, five pass defenses, one forced fumble and no interceptions as a rookie.
The 2025 season saw the cornerback battle a concussion, a hamstring injury and a lingering heel issue to play only 10 games. When in the secondary, he allowed 26 catches for a 93.0 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus.
Melton is currently listed as a first-string cornerback and third-string kick returner on Arizona's latest depth chart.
2024: 13 games | 63 carries | 291 yards | 1 TD
2025: 4 games | 29 carries | 160 yards | 0 TDs
Career Stats: 17 games | 92 carries | 451 yards | 1 TD
With the second pick of the third round, the Cardinals selected Florida State running back Trey Benson. In two seasons at Tallahassee, he rushed for 1,985 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Despite entering his rookie year as the team's backup, Benson only received 63 carries in 13 games before missing the final three games due to an ankle injury.
The 2025 season presented an opportunity for the running back to prove himself after James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury. However, Benson injured his meniscus in his first game at the top of the running back room and remained on injured reserve the rest of the year.
After signing Tyler Allgeier and drafting Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals waived Benson on Aug. 24. He currently remains on the team's injured reserve list after clearing waivers.
2024: 15 games | 5 starts
2025: 17 games | 11 starts
Career Stats: 32 games | 16 starts
On Day 2 of the 2023 NFL draft, the Cardinals traded down from No. 33 overall in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick from the Tennessee Titans .
A year later, that third-round pick turned into Illinois guard Isaiah Adams. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman appeared in 15 games and played 462 snaps as a rookie, primarily at right guard.
Adams took over the starting right guard spot entering the 2025 season before finishing the year with 763 snaps in 11 starts and 17 games He allowed 23 total pressures and two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
On July 19, Adams was arrested in Canada on four weapons charges. He reported to training camp shortly thereafter and was expected to compete with Chase Bisontis for a starting role before the 2026 second-round pick tore his MCL during the preseason.
Adams is currently listed as the starting right guard on the Cardinals' latest depth chart.
2024: 17 games | 6 receptions| 37 yards | 0 TDs
2025: 4 games | 3 receptions | 18 yards | 0 TDs
Illinois tight end Tip Reiman was the third-round pick the Cardinals acquired in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts to move down three spots.
In 21 games across his first two seasons, Reiman has caught nine passes for 55 yards and no touchdowns. He has taken snaps on offense, primarily as a blocker — his strength — and special teams.
Reiman will begin the 2026 season on the reserve/PUP list as he continues to recover from a serious ankle injury he suffered last season. As a result, he won't be eligible to return until Week 5.
2025: 10 games | 3 total tackles | 0 interceptions
Boston College cornerback Elijah Jones was the Cardinals' final selection within the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.
Jones missed the entire 2024 season due to an ankle injury he sustained during the preseason. Despite fully recovering the next year, he only appeared in 10 games and was listed as a healthy inactive on several occasions.
Jones was waived Aug. 30 as part of Arizona's roster cuts ahead of the 2026 season. He is currently a member of the New York Giants practice squad.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
