ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals take outside linebaker Markus Golden in second round of NFL Draft

May 2, 2015, 1:16 AM | Updated: 2:09 am

Presented By...

The Arizona Cardinals selected pass rusher Markus Golden in the second round — 58th overall — of the 2015 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 260-pound outside linebacker out of Missouri was named to the second-team All-SEC in 2014, when he started all 13 games, tallying 78 tackles, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles and two passes defensed. He also returned one fumble for a touchdown.

Twenty of Golden’s tackles last season were for a loss, good for third-most in the SEC.

The St. Louis native has been clocked as fast as 4.74 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and he has a vertical jump of 28.5 inches.

Golden was once a backup to 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam and he played alongside eventual first-round pick Shane Ray, now of the Denver Broncos.

The Cardinals originally had the 55th overall pick, which they shipped to Baltimore for the 58th and 158th spots in the draft.

Arizona arguably reached for the former Tiger, as NFL.com projected him to go in the fourth or fifth round of the draft.

After getting picked, Golden told reporters he expected to go in the first three rounds.

“I’m just happy that … they just took a chance on me,” he said. “It’s a blessing. It’s just the biggest day of my life, and I’m just so excited. I’ve been working my whole life for this. So I don’t really care about where I went; I’m just happy I’m with the Arizona Cardinals. I’m honored to be a part of the their team.”

Golden added he knew the Cardinals were interested in him and liked the way he rushes the passer.

As far as his pass-rushing style, he said he’s “relentless, relentless.”

“Whatever I’ve got to do to get to their quarterback, I’m gonna do,” the linebacker said. “And I know eventually, by the end of the game, I’m going to make sure I’m going to get a few shots on (the quarterback), and eventually I’m going to bring him down for a sack.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Jonah Williams pressure Sam Darnold...

Tyler Drake

Report: Free agent DL Jonah Williams visiting Arizona Cardinals this week

Defensive lineman Jonah Williams is visiting the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings this week, according to Aaron Wilson.

9 hours ago

Casita seating at the Arizona Cardinals' State Farm Stadium...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals’ new suite options at State Farm Stadium include casitas

The Arizona Cardinals on Monday announced new luxury seating options for 2024, including custom casita suites at State Farm Stadium.

13 hours ago

Justin Fields...

Associated Press

Quarterback carousel: Bears trade Justin Fields to Steelers to clear way for top pick

The Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night for draft compensation.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray...

Arizona Sports

Report: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s 2025 guarantees kick in

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray had nearly $30 million guaranteed for the 2025 season kick in by remaining on Arizona's roster by Saturday.

2 days ago

Paris Johnson Jr. celebrates with Kyler Murray...

Tyler Drake

Which side of the line will Cardinals’ Paris Johnson Jr. command in 2024?

Even before the Cardinals released D.J. Humphries, there was already talk of Paris Johnson Jr. making the switch from right to left.

3 days ago

Marvin Harrison Jr. celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Marvin Harrison Jr. wasn’t opposed to joining Arizona Cardinals in 2023

Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals in 2024? That's what Paris Johnson Jr. predicted soon after getting pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

3 days ago

Arizona Cardinals take outside linebaker Markus Golden in second round of NFL Draft