Note: Updated for Edgerrin James’ 2020 Hall of Fame selection.
In the 1999 NFL Draft, the first three picks overall were quarterbacks – Tim Couch to the Cleveland Browns (bust), Donovan McNabb to the Philadelphia Eagles (very good career), and Akili Smith to the Cincinnati Bengals (bust). Then, with the fourth overall pick and having traded away star running back Marshall Faulk, the Indianapolis Colts were in a position to draft a running back; though Ricky Williams had just won the Heisman Trophy, the Colts surprised many by drafting Edgerrin James instead. This led to a domino effect where Mike Ditka and the New Orleans Saints essentially traded away their entire draft to take Williams at fifth overall, thus forever intertwining the careers of James and Williams. Both running backs had productive careers and in comparing the two in hindsight, the question is:
Who was better – Edgerrin James or Ricky Williams?
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