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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George Rogers (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history: number 28, RB George Rogers

Stats:

7,176 rushing yards
54 rushing touchdowns

Awards:

2 time Pro Bowler
1 time All-Pro
1 time Super Bowl champ

A career cut short is always devastating to witness but it becomes even more heartbreaking when witnessing how great a player actually is. For running back George Rogers, he gave the NFL world a glimpse of what he was able to do, his body simply couldn’t keep up.

The New Orleans Saints had their man circled coming into the 1983 Draft. Rogers was a dominant force for the South Carolina Gamecocks. So much so in fact, that a statue of George now sits on campus, welcoming students to the grounds and reminding everyone of what he was able to accomplish.

As a consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy winner, the Saints wasted no time in snagging him and Rogers immediately rewarded them. Roger’s 1,674 rushing yards still stand at number two all-time as the most rushing yards by a rookie. He was chosen as a Pro Bowler and All-Pro as a result.

Rogers would battle injuries soon after but still managed to stay relatively healthy enough to put together four seasons of over a thousand yards. His career was truncated at just the age of 29 as his body continued to fail him. With only five healthy seasons under his belt, Rogers still ranks 62nd all-time with 7,176 rushing yards.

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