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

Part of the legendary Miami Hurricanes football teams at the start of the millennium, Clinton Portis was taken No. 51 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2002 NFL Draft. He had one of the best rookie seasons for a running back in NFL history, going for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Portis followed that up with an even better sophomore campaign, rushing for 1,591 yards and 14 scores – all being done in three fewer games played than in the 2002 NFL regular season. He broke several NFL records for his accomplishments in the first two seasons with the Broncos, including most yards accumulated.

But in the 2003 NFL offseason, Portis was involved in one of the most high-profile trades in NFL history. He was sent to the Washington Redskins in exchange for Champ Bailey, one of the best cover corners in modern NFL history.

Portis maintained his high level of play in Washington, going for 1,315 yards in 2004 that included a 64-yard touchdown rush in his very first carry of the season. He followed that up with a 1,516-yard campaign in 2005 with 11 rushing touchdowns.

Even after an injury-shortened season in 2006, Portis rebounded with back-to-back strong years in 2007 and 2008, combining for over 2,700 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. But injuries and concussions started to catch up to him in his final two seasons with the Redskins, playing in just 13 total games.

Portis and Washington eventually parted ways. He ultimately retired in 2012 after rushing for 9,923 yards and getting to the end zone 75 times. He had one of the best stretches for a running back in modern history, going for 9,000 yards in seven seasons.

While he didn’t have as dominant of a statistical year with Washington as he did with Denver, Portis did grow as a runner under head coach Joe Gibbs to become one of the franchise’s best offensive players ever.