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Tomlinson attacking record books
By David Rose and Russell S. Baxter
Special for ESPN.com
Most teams picking in the top 10 of the draft expect to land impact players. Of course, it doesn't always work out that way, but we decided to show the kind of player who can be added when a front office gets it right by ranking the 10 best selections at each spot in the top 10 since 1967 (the first common draft between the AFL and NFL). Here are the all-time best No. 5 picks, as we count down to Friday's posting of the best No. 1 picks.
Top 10 No. 5 Picks
1. RB LaDainian Tomlinson (2001) -- Chargers
Tomlinson has dominated the league, making NFL history in just six seasons. In 2006, he set single-season records with 31 total touchdowns, 186 total points scored and eight consecutive multi-TD games. He enters the 2007 season just 824 rush yards shy of 10,000 for his career. The four-time Pro Bowler also had 100 receptions during the 2003 season.
2. DB Mike Haynes (1976) -- Patriots
One of the best cornerbacks to ever play the game, Haynes burst onto the NFL scene with the Patriots in 1976, collecting eight interceptions and running two punts back for touchdowns. Haynes was named to nine Pro Bowls in his career. After recording 28 interceptions in seven seasons with New England, Haynes joined the Raiders in 1983. He intercepted a Joe Theismann pass in the Raiders' blowout win over the Commanders in Super Bowl XVIII. Haynes finished with 46 career interceptions and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
3. DB Deion Sanders (1989) -- Falcons
Sanders is one of the NFL's all-time great shutdown cornerbacks, and brought excitement to the game every time he got his hands on the ball. Sanders won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1994 and finished his career with 53 interceptions. He scored a total of 22 touchdowns in five different ways (nine interception returns, six punt returns, three kickoff returns, three receptions and one fumble recovery), and was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams (1994 49ers, 1995 Cowboys).
4. LB Junior Seau (1990) -- Chargers
A future Hall of Famer, Seau's career has spanned 17 seasons with the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots. However, it was his 13 seasons as the emotional leader of the Chargers that earned him his elite status. Seau was selected to 12 straight Pro Bowls from 1991 to 2002, while leading the Chargers in tackles on eight different occasions. Seau recorded 155 total tackles during the 1994 season, a year which saw the Chargers reach the Super Bowl for the only time in franchise history.
5. RB Jamal Lewis (2000) -- Ravens
Baltimore's workhorse during the six seasons he spent with the team, Lewis ran for 1,364 yards during his rookie season (2000), then ran for 102 yards in Baltimore's Super Bowl XXXV win over the Giants. After missing the entire 2001 season due to a torn ACL, Lewis came back to rush for over 1,300 yards in 2002. He enjoyed a historic 2003, running for 2,066 yards (second-most all time), including an NFL-record 295 yards against the Browns. For his efforts, Lewis was named Offensive Player of the Year.
6. TE Riley Odoms (1972) -- Broncos
In the history of the common draft, no tight end has ever been drafted higher than Odoms, who was a big-time target for Denver quarterbacks. In 12 NFL seasons, the former Houston Cougar caught 396 passes for 41 scores, totaling at least one touchdown in each of his first 10 seasons. Odoms was named to four Pro Bowls along the way.
7. NT Bill Maas (1984) -- Chiefs
A two-time Pro Bowler, Maas anchored the middle of a Kansas City defense that was renowned for its opportunistic play, especially after head coach Marty Schottenheimer arrived in 1989. The two-time Pro Bowler's last season in the NFL came with the Packers in 1993.
8. DT Dave Butz (1973) -- Cardinals
At 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, Butz entered the league with the St. Louis Cardinals, then wound up in Washington in 1975 (under the guidance of Hall of Fame head coach George Allen), where he played his final 14 seasons. Although he was named to only one Pro Bowl during his career, he was a key cog on the Washington teams (under Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs) that won Super Bowls XVII and XXII.
9. QB Jim McMahon (1982) -- Bears
While McMahon's career numbers might not blow people away (18,148 yards, 100 touchdown passes in 15 NFL seasons), his toughness and ability to play through injuries will forever make him a hero in the eyes of Bears' fans. He threw 15 touchdown passes in the 1985 Super Bowl-winning season, becoming the first Chicago QB since 1964 to reach the Pro Bowl. McMahon would then throw three touchdown passes and rush for three more during the postseason. He ended his career as a backup to Brett Favre, earning another Super Bowl ring as a member of the 1996 Packers.
10. QB Kerry Collins (1995) -- Panthers
Collins has played for five teams in his 12 NFL seasons, throwing for 34,186 yards and 174 touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1996 with the Panthers, but his best season might have come in 2000 with the Giants, as he passed for 3,610 yards and 22 touchdowns. He threw for 381 yards and five touchdowns in the Giants' 41-0 win over the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, as New York advanced to Super Bowl XXXV.
Honorable Mention
RB Ricky Williams (1999) -- Saints
David Rose and Russell S. Baxter work for ESPN Research.
LINK
By David Rose and Russell S. Baxter
Special for ESPN.com
Most teams picking in the top 10 of the draft expect to land impact players. Of course, it doesn't always work out that way, but we decided to show the kind of player who can be added when a front office gets it right by ranking the 10 best selections at each spot in the top 10 since 1967 (the first common draft between the AFL and NFL). Here are the all-time best No. 5 picks, as we count down to Friday's posting of the best No. 1 picks.
Top 10 No. 5 Picks
1. RB LaDainian Tomlinson (2001) -- Chargers
Tomlinson has dominated the league, making NFL history in just six seasons. In 2006, he set single-season records with 31 total touchdowns, 186 total points scored and eight consecutive multi-TD games. He enters the 2007 season just 824 rush yards shy of 10,000 for his career. The four-time Pro Bowler also had 100 receptions during the 2003 season.
2. DB Mike Haynes (1976) -- Patriots
One of the best cornerbacks to ever play the game, Haynes burst onto the NFL scene with the Patriots in 1976, collecting eight interceptions and running two punts back for touchdowns. Haynes was named to nine Pro Bowls in his career. After recording 28 interceptions in seven seasons with New England, Haynes joined the Raiders in 1983. He intercepted a Joe Theismann pass in the Raiders' blowout win over the Commanders in Super Bowl XVIII. Haynes finished with 46 career interceptions and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
3. DB Deion Sanders (1989) -- Falcons
Sanders is one of the NFL's all-time great shutdown cornerbacks, and brought excitement to the game every time he got his hands on the ball. Sanders won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1994 and finished his career with 53 interceptions. He scored a total of 22 touchdowns in five different ways (nine interception returns, six punt returns, three kickoff returns, three receptions and one fumble recovery), and was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams (1994 49ers, 1995 Cowboys).
4. LB Junior Seau (1990) -- Chargers
A future Hall of Famer, Seau's career has spanned 17 seasons with the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots. However, it was his 13 seasons as the emotional leader of the Chargers that earned him his elite status. Seau was selected to 12 straight Pro Bowls from 1991 to 2002, while leading the Chargers in tackles on eight different occasions. Seau recorded 155 total tackles during the 1994 season, a year which saw the Chargers reach the Super Bowl for the only time in franchise history.
5. RB Jamal Lewis (2000) -- Ravens
Baltimore's workhorse during the six seasons he spent with the team, Lewis ran for 1,364 yards during his rookie season (2000), then ran for 102 yards in Baltimore's Super Bowl XXXV win over the Giants. After missing the entire 2001 season due to a torn ACL, Lewis came back to rush for over 1,300 yards in 2002. He enjoyed a historic 2003, running for 2,066 yards (second-most all time), including an NFL-record 295 yards against the Browns. For his efforts, Lewis was named Offensive Player of the Year.
6. TE Riley Odoms (1972) -- Broncos
In the history of the common draft, no tight end has ever been drafted higher than Odoms, who was a big-time target for Denver quarterbacks. In 12 NFL seasons, the former Houston Cougar caught 396 passes for 41 scores, totaling at least one touchdown in each of his first 10 seasons. Odoms was named to four Pro Bowls along the way.
7. NT Bill Maas (1984) -- Chiefs
A two-time Pro Bowler, Maas anchored the middle of a Kansas City defense that was renowned for its opportunistic play, especially after head coach Marty Schottenheimer arrived in 1989. The two-time Pro Bowler's last season in the NFL came with the Packers in 1993.
8. DT Dave Butz (1973) -- Cardinals
At 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, Butz entered the league with the St. Louis Cardinals, then wound up in Washington in 1975 (under the guidance of Hall of Fame head coach George Allen), where he played his final 14 seasons. Although he was named to only one Pro Bowl during his career, he was a key cog on the Washington teams (under Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs) that won Super Bowls XVII and XXII.
9. QB Jim McMahon (1982) -- Bears
While McMahon's career numbers might not blow people away (18,148 yards, 100 touchdown passes in 15 NFL seasons), his toughness and ability to play through injuries will forever make him a hero in the eyes of Bears' fans. He threw 15 touchdown passes in the 1985 Super Bowl-winning season, becoming the first Chicago QB since 1964 to reach the Pro Bowl. McMahon would then throw three touchdown passes and rush for three more during the postseason. He ended his career as a backup to Brett Favre, earning another Super Bowl ring as a member of the 1996 Packers.
10. QB Kerry Collins (1995) -- Panthers
Collins has played for five teams in his 12 NFL seasons, throwing for 34,186 yards and 174 touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1996 with the Panthers, but his best season might have come in 2000 with the Giants, as he passed for 3,610 yards and 22 touchdowns. He threw for 381 yards and five touchdowns in the Giants' 41-0 win over the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, as New York advanced to Super Bowl XXXV.
Honorable Mention
RB Ricky Williams (1999) -- Saints
David Rose and Russell S. Baxter work for ESPN Research.
LINK
