NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Quarterback Sam Bradford (R) from the Oklahoma Sooners poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as they hold up a St. Louis Rams jersey after the Rams selected Bradford numer 1 overall during the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

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O.J. Simpson (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history: number 10, RB O.J. Simpson

Stats:

11,236 rushing yards
61 touchdowns

Awards:

6 time Pro Bowler
Former league MVP

Running back O.J. Simpson was on the verge of dropping far lower on this list after his first few years in the league. He may have looked like a star in USC, bulldozing defenders and rushing his way to the Heisman Trophy in 1968, but once he got to the NFL, it was a different story.

Simpson didn’t crack a thousand yards in his first three seasons. It wasn’t for a lack of opportunity either as he was the starting running back right out of the gate but simply put, Simpson wasn’t very good.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a light switch went off. Suddenly, he understood the angles and when to cut to avoid the countless defenders attempting to take him down. Simpson had his first thousand yard season in his fourth year and continued to do so five consecutive years. His best season by far came in 1973 when he led the league in rushing with 2,003 yards and took the ball to the house 12 times. He picked up the MVP award for his efforts that year.

His individual numbers may have netted him an enteral place in Canton but ultimately, he never sniffed the Super Bowl, making it only one time in his 11-year career.

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