New York Giants: Top 15 first-round draft picks all-time

Kyle Rote is one of only two players to be selected No. 1 overall by the Giants. The SMU Mustangs’ former All-American and Heisman runner-up was selected first in the 1951 NFL Draft after the G-Men won the rights to select first in a special lottery.

Rote, who died in 2002, still holds the sixth most receiving yards (4,797), 12th most receptions (300), and second most touchdown receptions (48) in franchise history.

Not bad for a player who switched positions from halfback to wide receiver due to a knee injury. Imagine what his stats could have looked like if he had been a receiver from day one in the NFL. That might have helped his case for Canton enshrinement.

Former Giants quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle gave high praise of his former teammate after his passing, via ESPN.

"“Kyle Rote was one of the smartest football men of that era. He had a great offensive mind regarding the passing game, and football in general. Plus the fact there has probably never been a nicer person to ever play the game. Everybody liked Kyle Rote. Fans liked him, sportswriters liked him, players liked him. He was just a good person and an outstanding football player.”"

Rote was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Second-Team All-Pro during his 11-year career with the Giants. He helped the franchise reach four NFL Championship games and won a title with Big Blue in 1956. He was also the first president of the NFL Players Association.