After plucking big-school prospects with their first three choices, the Cardinals dipped into the small-school ranks in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.
They selected Midwestern State safety Marqui Christian, who won the Cliff Harris Award as the country’s top small-college defensive player in 2015, with the No. 167 overall selection and added Harvard guard Cole Toner four picks later.
General Manager Steve Keim has found success in the past with small-school players, grabbing wide receiver John Brown in 2014 and running back David Johnson, defensive tackle Rodney Gunter and wide receiver J.