Though he was drafted in the sixth round, Sharar has plenty of opportunities to prove himself on a bad Cardinals team.
To say the Arizona Cardinals have been a perennial loser in the NFL would be an understatement.
The franchise entered the NFL for the league's debut season in 1920, and is one of two teams from the initial launch to remain in the league today (the Chicago Bears are the other).
While the Bears have experienced championship success, the Cardinals have only made the playoffs 11 times in their 107-year, three-city history. Arizona isn't expected to reverse those fortunes in 2026, as it features a brand-new coaching staff and has questions at numerous key positions.
NFL draftees may not be attracted to the desert due the likelihood they will have to suffer through many losing seasons at the beginning of their professional careers, but there's also a positive side to that - opportunity.
Bad teams experience roster turnover every season, allowing late round draft picks to make a positive impression on their coaches.
For former Iowa football linebacker Karson Sharar, that's exactly what he needs to succeed in the NFL. The Iowa Falls, Iowa native didn't earn playing time until his senior season, but once he got the opportunity to get on the field, he shined.
That doesn't always transfer to the NFL, but if there's anything we know about former Hawkeyes in the NFL, it's that they are usually praised for their strong work ethic.
Sharar certainly has that, and it's why he has a shot to earn a role for this Cardinals team in 2026.
The rundown
After playing sparingly behind a loaded linebacker room during his first three seasons in Iowa City, Sharar earned a starting position for the 2025 season. He would remain there in all 13 games, recording a team-high 83 tackles and four sacks.
Sharar collected a career-high 10 tackles in wins over Rutgers and Michigan State, but the game Hawkeye fans likely remember the most is Sharar's final collegiate game - the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl against No. 14 Vanderbilt.
Iowa was a 5.5-point underdog coming into that game, but Sharar set the tone early with a pair of powerful sacks on Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia. The Hawkeyes won the game, 34-27, to end Sharar's career on a high note.
Sharar didn't have much college tape for NFL teams to scout him, but the Cardinals were obviously very impressed with his play during his senior campaign. As you might expect from a team that went 3-14 last season, Arizona's linebacker room has changed.
Zaven Collins and Mack Wilson Sr. are back, but those are the only returners the Cardinals have at that position. Arizona signed free agent Jack Gibbens, but there's still a lot of opportunities for Sharar to get playing time.
He may not be a regular starter in the desert this year, but new head coach Mike LaFleur would be smart to at least give Sharar a shot and rotate him in the action every once in awhile. Sharar could also see a critical role on special teams, an area the Cardinals finished 30th in last season.
Arizona fans may not like this, but this will be a team playing for a top draft pick in 2026. Why not showcase as much young talent as you can?
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
