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Before we see who the Cardinals take in the 2017 NFL draft, the Heat Index decided to look back at the team’s previous drafts since moving to Arizona.
Here’s what we found out about the team’s selections at running back:
If you had to pick a lucky round for the Arizona Cardinals to draft a running back, you might not go wrong with the third.
After all, even though the team has only drafted a running back in that round once since moving to Arizona, that running back has made quite a name for himself early in his career.
That running back? David Johnson.
RELATED: Cardinals draft history – QBs | WRs
He was taken with the No. 86 overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.
As for the team’s success drafting running backs in other rounds … that’s been a different story.
The Cardinals have taken three running backs in the first round since moving to Arizona: Beanie Wells, Thomas Jones and Garrison Hearst.
Wells was the No. 31 overall pick in 2009. Jones was No. 7 overall in 2000. Hearst was No. 3 overall in 1993.
RELATED: 2017 NFL draft quarterback rankings | Wide receiver rankings
The team has taken a running back in the second round more than any other: 6. The most recent was Ryan Williams in 2011.
As for the later rounds of the draft, Arizona has taken three running backs in the fourth round through the years.
It has taken five in the fifth, three in the sixth and five in the seventh.
Among the notable running backs drafted by the Cardinals in the later rounds: Andre Ellington (6th round, 2013), Michael Pittman (4th round, 1998) and Larry Centers (5th round, 1990).
RELATED: NFL’s highest paid running backs | Players
NFL MOCK DRAFT TRACKER: Latest picks for Cardinals
Running backs drafted by Cardinals in Arizona:
2015: 3rd round (86 overall) | David Johnson | RB | Northern Iowa
2013: 5th round (140 overall) | Stepfan Taylor | RB | Stanford
2013: 6th round (187 overall) | Andre Ellington | RB | Clemson
2011: 2nd round (38 overall) | Ryan Williams | RB | Virginia Tech
2011: 5th round (136 overall) | Anthony Sherman | RB | Connecticut
2009: 1st round (31 overall) | Beanie Wells | RB | Ohio State
2009: 7th round (240 overall) | LaRod Stephens-Howling | RB | Pittsburgh
2008: 5th round (149 overall) | Tim Hightower | RB | Richmond
2005: 2nd round (44th overall) | J.J. Arrington | RB | California
2002: 6th round (185 overall) | Josh Scobey | RB | Kansas State
2000: 1st round (7th overall) | Thomas Jones | RB | Virginia
1999: 4th round (116 overall) | Joel Makovicka | FB | Nebraska
1999: 6th round (206 overall) | Dennis McKinley | FB | Mississippi State
1998: 4th round (95 overall) | Michael Pittman | RB | Fresno State
1998: 7th round (233 overall) | Ron Janes | RB | Missouri
1996: 2nd round (32 overall) | Leeland McElroy | RB | Texas A&M
1994: 2nd round (38 overall) | Chuck Levy | RB | Arizona
1994: 7th round (204 overall) | Frank Harvey | RB | Georgia
1993: 1st round (3rd overall) | Garrison Hearst | RB | Georgia
1993: 4th round (87 overall) | Ronald Moore | RB | Pittsburg State
1991: 7th round (171 overall) | Ivory Lee Brown | RB | Arkansas-Pine Bluff
1991: 8th round (198 overall) | Greg Amsler | RB | Tennessee
1990: 2nd round (31st overall) | Anthony Thompson | RB | Indiana
1990: 5th round (115 overall) | Larry Centers | RB | Stephen F. Austin St.
1990: 7th round (169 overall) | Johnny Johnson | RB | San Jose State
1988: 2nd round (38 overall) | Tony Jeffery | RB | Texas Christian
1988: 5th round (132 overall) | Tony Jordan | RB | Kansas State
MORE: Ranking the biggest NFL draft busts of all time
RELATED: Cardinals’ first-round draft picks since 2000: Hits and misses
To see photos of all the running backs the Cardinals have drafted since they moved to Arizona, click here.
For more from The Heat Index, go to heatindex.azcentral.com.
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