Simeon Rice: Pick #3 in the 1996 NFL Draft

Simeon Rice is a former defensive end out of Illinois, selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 3rd overall pick (round 1) in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played 174 regular-season games from 1996 to 2007. From 1999 on, he played for the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts. He was named to 3 Pro Bowls.

Draft Details

Year

1996

Round

Round 1

Pick

3rd overall

Team

Arizona Cardinals

Position

DE

College

Illinois

Simeon Rice Career Stats

3× Pro Bowl selection, 1× first-team All-Pro.
Primary starter for 11 seasons.
Ranks 1st in the 1996 draft class in sacks (122).

Career Totals

Games	Solo Tkl	Sacks	Def INT
174	403	122	5

Defense

Season	Team	G	Solo	Ast	TFL	Sacks	QB Hits	INT	PD	FF
1999	ARI	15	28	9	9	16.5	11	0	1	7
2000	ARI	14	25	3	12	7.5	6	0	3	1
2001	TB	16	33	5	14	11	9	0	8	2
2002	TB	16	35	9	12	15.5	10	1	11	6
2003	TB	16	37	6	0	14.5	0	2	8	6
2004	TB	14	32	5	0	12.5	0	0	5	1
2005	TB	14	26	7	0	14	0	1	4	6
2006	TB	8	11	4	0	2	5	0	1	4
2007	IND	6	5	3	0	1	2	0	2	0
Since 1999		119	232	51	47	94.5	43	4	43	33

G = games with at least one recorded statistic; the career games total in the summary above includes every game played.

Season-by-season detail is available from 1999 on; career totals above cover the full career.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

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Rd	Pick	Team	Player	Pos	College
1	1	NYJ	Keyshawn Johnson	WR	USC, West Los Angeles College
1	2	JAX	Kevin Hardy	OLB	Illinois
1	4	BAL	Jonathan Ogden	OT	UCLA
1	5	NYG	Cedric Jones	DE	Oklahoma
1	6	LA	Lawrence Phillips	RB	Nebraska
1	7	NE	Terry Glenn	WR	Ohio State
1	8	CAR	Tim Biakabutuka	RB	Michigan
1	9	LV	Rickey Dudley	TE	Ohio State
1	10	CIN	Willie Anderson	OT	Auburn
1	11	NO	Alex Molden	DB	Oregon