NFL: 30 running backs who got better after leaving their first team

A ninth-round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft from Clemson, Terry Allen quickly became one of the biggest value selections in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings. He was a full-time starter in his second season, amassing 1,201 rushing yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. But his career was in jeopardy after tearing his ACL in the 1993 NFL preseason, missing the entire regular season.

But Allen recovered well, going for another 1,000 yards the following year for the Vikings to lead them to the playoffs. However, the franchise was still concerned about his long-term viability after the serious injury, so Allen went to the Washington Redskins. That proved to be a wonderful decision, as he went for 1,309 yards in 1995.

But his best was yet to come. In 1996, Allen ran the ball 347 times for a career-high 1,353 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. That was tops in the league, with back-to-back performances of three touchdowns in a game. Allen was named to the Pro Bowl that season and was named Second-Team All-Pro in the league.

Allen had less of a workload as he approached age-30, rushing for around 700 yards the next two seasons with the Redskins. He then went to the New England Patriots for a year, going for 900 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.

The former pro bowler finished out his career with the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens to amass a total of 73 rushing touchdowns and 8,614 yards. He had one of the best seasons for a Washington running back and was a scoring machine. Not bad for a former ninth-round pick looking to just stay in the league.