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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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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 18: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings runs off the field after warmups prior to an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 18: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings runs off the field after warmups prior to an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images) /

RB. 2007- Oklahoma. Adrian Peterson. 7. player. 60.

When Adrian Peterson was a kid, his father nicknamed him “All Day,” because he could go outside and play all day. During his time at Oklahoma, Peterson established himself as one of the better running back prospects the college game had seen in a long time, and the Minnesota Vikings were right to use their No. 7 overall pick in 2007 on him.

As soon as Peterson put on the No. 28 Vikings jersey, he became an absolute  menace in the backfield, turning himself into the premier back in the NFL. The NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 2007, Peterson became an absolute star during his time in Minnesota, going to seven Pro Bowls in his ten years with the team, while winning the 2012 NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

With the Vikings, Peterson set himself a bunch of team records, and even holds the NFL’s record for most rushing yards in a single game with 296. Peterson led the NFL in rushing yards on three occasions, was a two-time NFL rushing touchdowns leader, and even took home a Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player award as a rookie.

All in all, his time with Minnesota was very productive on the field, and he even had to shake off a torn ACL during the 2011 campaign, an injury that took him only eight months to recover from. One of the few men to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, Peterson has bounced around a bit since leaving Minnesota in 2016, but he will still go down as one of the best running backs in the history of football.

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