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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Billy Sims (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history: number 26, RB Billy Sims

Stats:

5,106 rushing yards
42 touchdowns
3 time Pro Bowler

Awards:

1980 Offensive Rookie of the Year

Running back Billy Sims only receives a low spot on this list due to his promising career that was cut too short.

At the age of 25, Sims was taken with the number one overall pick by the Detroit Lions in 1980. There was no need for him to get acclimated to the league and prepare his body for its rigors as Sims had no issue playing with grown men.

The all-world running back gave it to defenders each and every Sunday. If the opposition was a bit faster than he was, then he would truck them out of the way. If they were too big and physical, then he would outrun them. Sims used every tool in his running back tool bag and saw success early on. He easily took home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after rushing for 1,303 yards and 13 touchdowns. The following year, he would do it again, rushing for an identical 13 touchdowns but this time around, he upped his rushing yards total to 1,437.

In total, Sims ran for at least a thousand yards in three of his first four seasons and was a three-time Pro Bowler. While the success story appeared to be a great one, Sims suffered a debilitating knee injury in 1986 and was forced to retire. He attempted to rehab his knee for two years and announced to the world that he would be coming back to wreak havoc on defenses, but nothing ever materialized as Sims opted to remain on the sidelines.

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