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NFL Draft: Best first-round draft pick in each slot in history

By Brad Weiss

IRVING, UNITED STATES: Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys rushes as Atlanta Falcons defenders pursue during the fourth quarter at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas 20 September. Smith rushed for two touchdowns and passed Tony Dorsett to become the NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher in the Cowboys 24-7 win. AFP PHOTO Paul BUCK (Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP/Getty Images)
IRVING, UNITED STATES: Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys rushes as Atlanta Falcons defenders pursue during the fourth quarter at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas 20 September. Smith rushed for two touchdowns and passed Tony Dorsett to become the NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher in the Cowboys 24-7 win. AFP PHOTO Paul BUCK (Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders (20) carries the ball during a 34-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on October 27, 1991, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. (Photo by Betsy Peabody Rowe/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders (20) carries the ball during a 34-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on October 27, 1991, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. (Photo by Betsy Peabody Rowe/Getty Images) /

RB. 1989- Oklahoma State. Barry Sanders. 3. player. 50.

Holding the No. 3 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions were deciding to pick between two Sanders. One was a running back from Oklahoma State, who dominated the college football landscape en-route to winning a Heisman Trophy in 1989, while the other was a game-changing cornerback from Florida State.

Then-head coach Wayne Fontes made enough noise with the front office to sway the organization to draft the running back, who would go on to be one of the best backs in the history of Pro Football. Barry Sanders set numerous records during his time in Stillwater, including the record for most touchdowns and rushing yards in a single-season, and he would continue that trend in the NFL.

Sanders entered the NFL in 1989, and from then, until he decided to retire abruptly in 1998, he was a Pro Bowl player. In addition, Sanders won Rookie of the Year honors in 1989, led the Detroit Lions to the playoff five times, and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player during a 1997 season that saw him rush for over 2,000 yards.

By the time Sanders retired, which was only at the age of 30,  he had been named a First-Team running back six times in ten seasons. A four-time NFL rushing leader, Sanders played the game like a video game, slicing and dicing defenses with ease, and for his efforts, the No. 20 will never be worn again with the Lions franchise.

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