National Football League

Cardinals chose DE Martin with 1st 3rd-round pick

Published May. 9, 2014 10:50 p.m. ET

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TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Cardinals chose North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin with the first of their two third-round picks in the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-6, 272-pound defensive lineman had 178 career tackles, 92 solo, for the Tar Heels. He had 13 1/2 career sacks, 11 1/2 last season. Martin deflected 13 passes, caused four fumbles and recovered four others.

Martin, a team captain, played on the line but knows he could be asked to play some outside linebacker in Arizona's 3-4 defensive scheme. He says playing linebacker would be a ''tough adjustment'' but believes he is a good enough athlete to pull it off.

Martin was the 84th overall pick in the draft.

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