ESPN: Cardinals’ 2004 draft class 18th-best in history

ESPN’s Brian Burke and Doug Clawson ranked the top draft classes in modern NFL Draft history, with the Arizona Cardinals 2004 class coming it at 18th.

Burke and Clawson used Pro Football Reference’s approximate value statistic to rank the best draft classes. The Cardinals’ 2004 class finished with an AV of 307, tied with the 1977 Bengals.

Larry Fitzgerald (first round), Karlos Dansby (second round) and Darnell Dockett (third round) were the Cardinals’ first three picks in 2004. Thirteen years later, the class still has three players in the league: Fitzgerald, Dansby and defensive end Antonio Smith (fifth round).

Fitzgerald, chosen third overall, has of course become a franchise icon. He’s third all-time in career receptions and holds the team record for receptions (1,125), yards (14,389) and touchdowns (104). He’s played 13 seasons for Arizona and is still going.

Dansby, the 33rd pick, is joining Arizona for a third time after signing in free agency. The 35-year-old linebacker spent his first six seasons in the Valley before signing with Miami. He rejoined the Cardinals in 2013 but left after one year for a deal with the Browns.

The Cardinals’ third round pick, defensive end Darnell Dockett, spent 10 seasons with Arizona. In the 2013 offseason he signed with the 49ers, but did not make the regular season roster. On July 25, 2016, Dockett retired a Cardinal after signing a one-day contract. Dockett record 40.5 sacks and started 156 games for Arizona in his career.

The Cardinals’ choice in the fourth round did not leave as much on an impact as the previous three. Center Alex Stepanovich played three seasons for Arizona, starting 40 games. He spent a year with the Bengals and a year with the Falcons before his career ended.

Defensive end Antonio Smith, the 135th pick in 2004, is still hanging around the NFL at 35 years old. Smith spent his first five seasons in Arizona before making his way to the Texans. He spent a year with the Raiders in 2014 and a year with the Broncos in 2015 before making his way back to Houston last season. In 186 games, he’s collected 315 combined tackles and 47.5 sacks.

In four seasons, sixth-rounder Nick Leckey appeared in 44 games for Arizona. The Kansas State alum moved to the division rival Rams, spending two seasons there before heading to New Orleans. After the Saint waived him in 2010, he left the NFL.

Lastly, seventh-round quarterback John Navarre spent three years with Arizona. He completed 32-of-64 passes for 342 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions in two games.