Arizona Cardinals select Iowa linebacker Karson Sharar in sixth round

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 31: Karson Sharar #43 of the Iowa Hawkeyes lines up on defense against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31, 2025 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals through six rounds have focused heavily on the offense, but day three has seen them add two defensive prospects.

With their sixth round pick, the Arizona Cardinals have selected Karson Sharar a 6-1 231lbs linebacker out of Iowa.

From NFL.com:

Sharar is a one-year starter whose production masks inconsistencies in the box. For having so few starts, he’s rarely fooled by misdirection and scrambles to recover when it gets the best of him. He lacks size/strength to play effectively through contact and hasn’t learned to slip blocks often enough. He’s a willing chance taker but subpar pursuit speed and tackle-finishing shrink his margin for error. Sharar’s best chance of making a roster will be as a special-teams star, but he’ll need to prove he’s trustworthy as a functional backup.

Sharar is the quintessential day three linebacker flyer. He is a freak athlete, 4.56 forty, a 40” vertical with a 10’3” broad jump for a linebacker is super impressive.

Yet, he has struggled to produce and only started 13 games in his career. Yet, when he started, he put up 83 tackles including 12 tackles for loss.

Worst case, he is a special teams demon ala Zeke Turner. Not bad in the sixth round.