Oklahoma football: Top 10 Sooner first-round NFL Draft picks
By Chip Rouse
No. 1 – RB Adrian Peterson, No. 7 overall, 2007 NFL Draft
This may be a controversial choice, but in terms of what he has accomplished in his now 11 NFL seasons Adrian Peterson stands above all other Oklahoma players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (since the 1950 NFL Draft).
Peterson, No. 4 on the Oklahoma career rushing list (4,045 yards), is 14th currently among all-time NFL rushing leaders (12, 276 yards).
One of the Sooners’ all-time greats, Peterson was the seventh player selected in the 2007 NFL Draft, taken by the Minnesota Vikings. He spent his first 10 pro seasons with the Vikings, winning the NFL rushing title three times (2008, 2012, 2015).
His best NFL season was in 2012, when he led the NFL in rushing with 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns. During that season he average 6.0 yards per rushing attempt.
In 2011, after missing almost all of the 2010 season with a knee injury, Peterson signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in October of last season after being signed to a two-year $7 million contract in May.
Arizona cut the three-time NFL rushing champion in March this year, making Peterson a free agent.
Peterson is a four-time NFL First-Team All-Pro, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.