Each NFL team’s best ever 1st-round draft pick

50. <p>In 1989, the Detriot Lions selected running back Barry Sanders No. 3 overall out of Oklahoma State. Sanders would go on to keep the Lions relevant throughout his career but the Lions didn’t put anything around him. So the Lions went only went as far as the Conference Championship Game once with him and lost that.</p> <p>As a matter of fact, not putting anything around Sanders caused him to retire at age 30, still in his prime. He had just rushed for 1,491 yards to follow his big season of 2,053 yards the year before. That 1,491 yards is the highest total in history for a running back to follow a 2,000-yard season.</p> <p>In his 10 years, Sanders was an All-Pro six times and made it to the Pro Bowl all 10 years. He could have easily been the NFL’s all-time leading rusher had he kept playing but Sanders was sick of playing without help. He now stands as the No. 3 all-time NFL rusher behind Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.</p> <p>But along with the great Jim Brown, he’s the only running back to finish his career with a 5-yard per carry average. And for my money, the Hall of Famer is also with Brown as the best running back in NFL history. Brown represents the power side of things while Sanders represents the elusive side.</p>. RB. Oklahoma State. Barry Sanders. '89. player