New York Giants: Top 15 first-round draft picks all-time
By Henry Buggy
. Running Back. Georgia Bulldogs, 1990. Rodney Hampton. 10. player. 31
In 1990, the Giants used their first-round pick on Georgia Bulldogs 1,000-yard rusher Rodney Hampton. It was a wise selection for the Giants at No. 24 overall that year, as Hampton would retire as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.
The 5-foot-11, 221-pound tailback would spend his entire eight-year NFL career with the G-Men. He won a Super Bowl ring as rookie and was named to the Pro Bowl in both 1992 and 1993.
Hampton’s 6,897 career rushing yards ranks second all-time in franchise history, according to Pro Football Reference, being only Tiki Barber. He trails only Brandon Jacobs and Barber in career rushing touchdowns with the Giants. His 14 rushing touchdowns in 1992 is still tied for the franchise’s third most in a single-season.
From 1991 to 1995, Big Blue’s star running back posted five consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He was a reliable player for the Giants in the post-Bill Parcells Super Bowl era. The Giants would not get back to the Super Bowl until 2000 under a new leader in then head coach Jim Fassel.
His ability to stay consistent despite playing for four different head coaches is a testament to his career. Hampton is surely not the best Giants running back of all-time, but his place in Big Blue’s history is indisputable.