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NFL Draft: The Greatest 1st Overall Picks Ever

By Erik Lambert

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jared Goff (California) is selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jared Goff (California) is selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 6, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) points to Cardinals fans in the crowd after defeating the St. Louis Rams 27-3 at the Edward Jones Dome. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) points to Cardinals fans in the crowd after defeating the St. Louis Rams 27-3 at the Edward Jones Dome. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

QB. USC. Carson Palmer . 22. player. 56. It’s been one of the most rollercoaster careers for a #1 pick in NFL history. Carson Palmer started out as expected. He turned around the hapless Cincinnati Bengals and made them a playoff team, reaching back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2005 and 2006. Unfortunately injuries derailed his time there and soon a disconnect formed between him and the team brass. Palmer retired in 2011 after they initially refused to grant his request for a trade, but returned when they finally dealt his rights to the Oakland Raiders. <p> </p> <p>Most felt he was on the decline after two lost seasons, but then he got a reprieve when the Arizona Cardinals traded for him at age 34 in 2013. He has since enjoyed a career resurgence, throwing for over 4,000 yards in two of the past three seasons,  reaching his third Pro Bowl and getting the Cardinals to the NFC Championship last year. It’s one of the great personal comeback stories pro football has witnessed in a long time.</p>

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