NFL Draft 2012: 3rd Round Is Key for Arizona Cardinals

For the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL draft has sometimes been a nightmare. In an event that's always hit-or-miss, they have historically picked more misses than hits.

But since 2000, the third round has been a thing to marvel at for Arizona.

Usually reserved for those college athletes who aren't the best at their positions, but still have some potential at the next level, the third-round selections for the Cardinals have been the epitome of hit-or-miss.

The third round is important this year, because Arizona doesn't own a pick in the second round, and unless they make a trade to get back into it, their second pick will be even more important than in past years.

Here are the Cardinals' third-round selections since 2000:

2000: Darwin Walker, DT, Tennessee, No. 71 overall selection

The Cardinals released Walker before he ever played a game for them. He signed with Philadelphia and played for them through the 2006 season, totaling 27.5 sacks during his time there, including three seasons of at least six sacks.

Oh, what might have been?

2001: Adrian Wilson, S, NC State, No. 64

Wilson is the best third-round pick in Cardinals history other than Aeneas Williams in 1993, for reasons that do not need to be explained.

He will once again start in the Pro Bowl for the NFC in 2012.

2002: Josh McCown, QB, Sam Houston State, No. 81 and Dennis Johnson, DE, Kentucky, No. 98

McCown has largely been a career backup for five different teams.

He went 10-12 in 22 starts for Arizona between 2003 and 2005, but has started only 11 games in five seasons since, going 2-7 with Oakland in 2007 and 1-1 in Chicago this season in relief of the injured Jay Cutler and benched backup Caleb Hanie.

Johnson played only three seasons in the league. He started ten games in 2003, recording the only three sacks of his career and totaled 37 tackles in 29 career games.

2003: Gerald Hayes, LB, Pittsburgh, No. 70

Hayes started nearly every game for Arizona from 2006-2009, and was largely underrated in doing so.

A product of the 4-3 defense, he was a casualty of the scheme when the Cardinals moved to the 3-4 in 2009.

His production dropped off heavily, and he eventually lost his job in 2010 to rookie Daryl Washington. He was released before the start of the 2011 season and is now out of football.

2004: Darnell Dockett, DT, Florida State, No. 64

Dockett is another who suffered from the move to a 3-4 defense, and in 2011 he recorded just 35 tackles—the lowest total since his second year in the league.

He is a leader on the defense, however, and has been named an alternate for the Pro Bowl. It would be his fourth such trip to pro football’s all-star game.

2005: Eric Green, CB, Virginia Tech, No. 75 and Darryl Blackstock, LB, Virginia, No. 95

Green was a fan favorite in Arizona. He was never a stud on the field, but that did not matter to the great fans of the organization.

He played well on special teams and recorded two interceptions in his short period on defense in four seasons with the Cardinals.

Blackstock played with Arizona through the 2007 campaign, starting only two games and recording four sacks. In 2008, he played in Cincinnati, then was released and subsequently spent the next two seasons on his couch.

This season he was signed by Oakland and was a non-factor.

2006: Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia, No. 72

At 6-foot-7 and extremely athletic, Pope was supposed to be the great tight end the Cardinals had been searching for their entire existence.

He was plagued by injury throughout his three-year term in Arizona, however, and never panned out.

He has been with Kansas City since 2009, and in that time has been living in the shadow of expectation that Tony Gonzalez left behind when he left for Atlanta.

He did enjoy the best year of his career in 2011, but at 24 receptions for 247 yards and one TD, that best is just not very good.

2007: Buster Davis, LB, Florida State, No. 69

Davis put the "bust" in Buster.

He was supposed to be the next great linebacker in the NFL. Everyone in Arizona expected great things out of him, but he was released before his rookie season even started.

He signed with Detroit just a few days later, but was immediately put on the practice squad. He has been out of football since 2009.

2008: Early Doucet, WR, LSU, No. 81

Doucet is an upcoming free agent, and just completed the best year of his career, catching 54 passes for 689 yards and five TD.

It's unclear whether he will be re-signed, but one thing is for sure: He has not lived up to expectations.

He was expected to step up after Anquan Boldin was traded to the Ravens, but until this season had been hampered by injury. If he returns, his contract may be largely performance-based.

2009: Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama, No. 95

Johnson was largely used as a special teams player until this season. When Kerry Rhodes went down with a broken foot, he stepped up and teamed up with corner Richard Marshall to fill in, and did an admirable job.

He is also a free agent (restricted), but after his performance in 2011, you can bet he will return with the team in 2012.

2010: Andre Roberts, WR, The Citadel, No. 88

It has been a love-hate relationship for Roberts and the fans of the Cardinals since he came to town.

He shows good athleticism at times, but seems to have cement blocks for hands. He is not a deep threat, and struggles to shake off defenders.

He had the two best games of his short career thus far against the Cowboys, going for over 100 yards in each contest, the only such games of his career, so he can stick around as long as he vows to crush them each time the teams meet.

2011: Rob Housler, TE, Florida Atlantic, No. 69

Housler had an up and down rookie year in 2011. He has amazing athleticism for his 6-foot-5 frame and the speed of a receiver, but his awareness on the field has come in question at times.

He has great potential to be the first franchise TE in team history, and that could mean big things are on the horizon for the offense.

How the draft plays out will not be known until it occurs in April. When the time draws nearer, I will highlight some possible picks the Cardinals have at their disposal.

Until then, stay tuned. There are many issues to be dealt with before the draft can take place.