New York Giants: Top 15 first-round draft picks all-time
By Henry Buggy
. Linebacker. Michigan State Spartans, 1984. Carl Banks. 5. player. 31
The Giants’ 1984 NFL Draft class is one to remember. Big Blue selected Michigan State All-American linebacker Carl Banks No. 3 overall before picking Roberts and quarterback Jeff Hostetler.
All three had a significant impact on the team’s success over the next decade, but Banks is considered one of the franchise’s all-time greats. He is one of 42 people inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor, which includes players, executives, coaches, and owners.
Banks spent his first nine seasons in the league with the G-Men, playing in 126 regular season games. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker started in 11 playoff games and helped Big Blue win two Lombardi Trophies.
Banks earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 1987 and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 1980’s All-Decade Team. His 627 recorded tackles ranks third all-time, trailing only Leonard Marshall and Michael Strahan, according to Pro Football Reference.
Banks also holds the 10th most sacks (36) in franchise history, but he wasn’t done after nine seasons in New York. He spent his final three years in the league with the rival Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns in the AFC.
With the Browns, Banks rejoined former Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick. Over the course of 12 NFL seasons, Banks was a part of six playoff teams.