16. Jerry Rice, 1985, 49ers
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In a way, you have to feel bad for Troy Polamalu. He’d be the obvious choice at 16th overall if it wasn’t for the greatest wide receiver of all time. Oddly enough, Rice went first overall in the USFL Draft but waited until 16th overall in the NFL Draft, as the 49ers grabbed him right before the rival Cowboys intended to draft him.
The rest, as they say, is history. Rice led the NFL in both receiving and touchdowns in his second season, quickly establishing himself among the game’s elite. He would end up spending 21 seasons in the NFL, finishing his career with the most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in NFL history, all of which are records that could stand for a long time.
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