What Cardinals fans can expect from NFL draft pick Karson Sharar, an insider perspective
Insider perspective on Arizona Cardinals draft pick Karson Sharar, from Hawk Central reporters who covered him at Iowa.
Iowa linebacker Karson Sharar was selected in the sixth round, 183rd overall, by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sharar appeared in 48 games during his Hawkeye career. Last season, Sharar took on a bigger role, starting all 13 games for the Hawkeyes.
It was by far the most productive season of Sharar's college career. His 83 tackles were almost seven times more than his previous single-season high. We asked Hawk Central football writers Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman for some quick analysis on Sharar.
Here's what they said. What kind of player was Karson Sharar at Iowa? Tyler Tachman : Sharar, a product of Iowa Falls, Iowa, appeared in 48 games during his Hawkeye career, including 13 starts.
Sharar mostly existed in the shadows until his final season at Iowa. He was behind some exceptional linebackers during his time in the program, such as Jack Campbell, Seth Benson, Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson. To his credit, Sharar did not bolt for the transfer portal, instead sticking it out with the Hawkeyes, despite not being in a featured role on defense.