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

The New York Giants hold their highest draft selection since 1981 and have a franchise-changing decision to make with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Big Blue has had plenty of hits and misses on first-round picks since the draft first started in 1936. The franchise has had 16 players enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame as New York Giants, but only two were first-round picks.

New York’s first-round pick in 1946, George Connor, technically gives the G-Men three Pro Football Hall of Fame first-round selections. But Connor spent his entire NFL career with the Chicago Bears. For that reason, Connor didn’t crack GMEN HQ’s list for the top 15 first-round picks of all-time.

While there are only two Pro Football Hall of Famers on the list, it’s also a testament to New York’s front offices and scouting departments over the generations. Michael Strahan, Sam Huff, Roosevelt Brown, Harry Carson, Justin Tuck, Tiki Barber, Leonard Marshall, Chris Snee and Amani Toomer are just some of the franchise’s all-time greats to be selected after the first round.

The Giants have won four NFL Championships and hoisted four Lombardi Trophies. Two of their NFL Championships (1927, 1934) came before the draft even existed. This list is ever-changing, as current and future players look to leave their own legacy with Big Blue. Who knows, maybe this year’s first-round pick becomes the next great to join this list? Only time will tell. But for now, the G-Men have more than enough history complete this list.

In 1980, the Giants selected Colorado’s All-American defensive back Mark Haynes with the No. 8 overall pick.

Through his first five seasons, the 5-foot-11, 194-pound cornerback recorded 13 interceptions in 75 games. Haynes was named a First-Team All-Pro twice (1982, 1984) and was three-time Pro Bowler with the Giants.

Unfortunately like many former Giants, Haynes’ time with the franchise ended on a sour note. He forced his trade to the Denver Broncos following a contract holdout in 1985. Haynes would go on to make three Super Bowl appearances with his new team, which included Big Blue’s Super Bowl XXI victory.

Some may argue that Haynes’ departure from the Giants should leave him off this list. There are other first-round picks that actually won Super Bowl titles with the franchise. But few had the impact on the field or played at the elite level Haynes did in his six-year stint with the team.

The Giants received two second-round picks and a sixth-round selection for the veteran defensive back. Haynes played in 137 games, making the playoffs four times over a 10-year career. He was inducted into Colorado’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

Aaron Ross’ tenure with the Giants was short for a first-round pick, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have an impact.

After winning a National Championship and the Jim Thorpe Award as a member of the Texas Longhorns, Ross was the 20th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He immediately made an impact in his rookie year, starting 12 games, including New York’s Super Bowl XLII upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots.

An argument could be made for 1983 first-round pick, former Clemson Tigers safety standout Terry Kinard, to take this spot, but Ross’ impact over the course of six seasons is undeniable. Although he was never named to a Pro Bowl like Kinard, Ross started in eight playoff games, including two Super Bowl victories.

Big Blue had 17 of the same players on their rosters in both 2007 and 2011. Only Mathias Kiwanuka, Ross, and Eli Manning were first-round picks. Ross and Manning were the only two to start in both Super Bowls, as Kiwanuka had his season cut short in 2007 due to a broken leg.

Ross also had two of his best statistical seasons in both 2007 and 2011, recording a combined 92 tackles, 22 passes defended, and seven interceptions.

His career numbers may not jump off the page like Kinard, but Giants fans know how much of an impact Ross had during New York’s two Super Bowl runs.

The Giants selected defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka with the last pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. The decision was questioned by many, especially given the depth of New York’s edge rushers.

General manager Dave Gettleman, who was the team’s pro personnel director at the time, recalled the selection during his introductory press conference this past December, via New York’s team website.

"“You can never have too many great players at one position. I mean, you think about us – we got (Michael) Strahan and Osi (Umenyiora) and we’re drafting (Justin) Tuck and we’re drafting (Mathias) Kiwanuka and people are looking at us like we have brain damage. You can never have too many great players at one position.”"

The move clearly worked out, as Kiwanuka proved to be a vital piece for the G-Men for many years. The former Big East Defensive Player of the Year out of Boston College would go on to win two Super Bowl rings with the Giants and finish his career with ninth most sacks (38.5) in franchise history, according to Pro Football Reference.

Kiwanuka’s ability to play both defensive end and linebacker for the Giants was a huge bonus. His presence allowed fellow pass rushers like Strahan, Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul to flourish.

Kiwanuka spent his entire nine-year career with the Giants, playing in 126 games. His versatility in the front-seven and being the ultimate glue guy helped the Giants win two Super Bowls in his time with the team. That era of Giants pass rush was absolutely filthy. Kiwanuka was a huge part of that position group’s success, so he gets the nod here at No. 13.

Hakeem Nicks has a valid argument to make this list, but unfortunately his career was cut short after just seven seasons. Ike Hilliard, however, spent eight seasons with Big Blue and was still a productive receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the final four years of his NFL career.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft still holds the fifth most receptions (368) in franchise history and the ninth most receiving yards (4,630), according to Pro Football Reference. The Florida Gators’ All-American receiver helped the Giants post a 12-4 record and reach Super Bowl XXXV during the 2000 season.

He exploded in the NFC Championship Game, leading the team with 10 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Hilliard was unable to win a title with the Giants, but that shouldn’t diminish the impact he had on the field.

Hilliard’s 546 receptions, 6,397 receiving yards, and 35 touchdowns puts him ahead of Nicks, Victor Cruz, and many other great receivers. His career longevity and numbers are the reasons he makes this list. Nicks and Mark Ingram are surely not far behind though due to their Super Bowl rings.

Hilliard spent most of his time with the Giants catching passes from Kerry Collins, leaving the team a year after Manning’s rookie season.

For some reason, Hilliard tends to be forgotten when remembering New York’s great receivers. That may be due to the fact that he spent his entire Giants career alongside the franchise’s all-time leading receiver in Amani Toomer.

Jeremy Shockey’s tenure with the Giants surely didn’t end as well as it started, but New York’s first-round pick in 2002 had to make this list.

The Miami Hurricanes’ First-Team All-American made his presence felt immediately at the next level. Shockey caught 74 passes for 894 yards in his rookie year, earning First-Team All-Pro honors. The four-time Pro Bowler may not be remembered as highly as Mark Bavaro, but he does hold the franchise-record for most receptions (371) by a tight end.

The 10-year veteran was a part of two Super Bowl winning teams, but missed New York’s Super Bowl run during the 2007 season due to a fractured leg. Shockey would go on to catch the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIV, helping the New Orleans Saints win their first and only Super Bowl in franchise history.

Shockey’s 547 receptions ranks 12th all-time among tight ends, placing him just ahead of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow, according to Pro Football Reference. The 6-foot-5, 253-pound tight end spent his first six seasons in the league with the Giants after winning a National Championship at Miami.

The Giants traded Shockey to New Orleans after winning Super Bowl XLII without him. Big Blue received just a second-round and fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft for the Pro Bowl tight end.

Although Shockey’s time with the Giants was far from perfect, his play on the field made him one of the greatest tight ends in franchise history.

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.

When the Giants selected Jason Pierre-Paul in 2010, Big Blue knew it was getting a raw talent with huge upside potential.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound pass rusher spent just one season at South Florida after transferring from community college. But he quickly made his presence felt, earning first-team All-American honors in 2009. It didn’t take long for “JPP” to transition to the next level.

In his second season, he recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks while helping the Giants hoist their fourth Lombardi Trophy. Pierre-Paul earned First-Team All-Pro honors that same season and was named a Pro Bowler in both 2011 and 2012.

In 2015, the Giants former first-round pick suffered a devastating hand injury due to a 4th of July fireworks accident. Despite playing with just seven-and-half fingers, “JPP” has proven he can still be an impact playmaker. 

Since the incident, Pierre-Paul has amassed 16 sacks and five forced fumbles but missed tackles have become a bigger issue. The Giants have moved on from “JPP” this offseason, trading him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His 58.5 career sacks ranks seventh all-time in Giants history, placing him just ahead of George Martin and right behind Justin Tuck.

New York’s first-round pick in 2014 has already solidified his place in NFL history. Odell Beckham Jr. became the fastest player to reach 4,000 receiving yards in just his third season, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth.

The former LSU All-American won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2014 and was named a Second-Team All-Pro in both 2015 and 2016. Beckham already holds the fifth most touchdown receptions (38) in franchise history.

Some could argue Beckham should be higher on this list. Others still want to see more from No. 13, especially in the postseason.

Beckham struggled in his sole playoff appearance, catching just four passes on 11 targets for 28 yards in a road loss to the Green Bay Packers in the 2016 NFC Playoffs. But that also shouldn’t diminish what he’s done on the field the past four seasons.

He has proven himself an electric playmaker capable of changing the momentum of a game on any given play. At 25 years old, Beckham still has plenty of football ahead.

If he is able to stay healthy and remains with the organization, Beckham has the talent to surpass Amani Toomer in almost all receiving categories. He almost half way to catching Toomer in receiving yards and needs 16 more scores to tie the Giants Ring of Honor receiver in all-time touchdown receptions.

Whether Beckham will finish his career with the G-Men is unknown. What is known is that OBJ is one of the greatest receivers of this generation, making him a solid No. 8 on this list.

If Beckham adds a couple playoff wins and a couple more 1,000-yard seasons to his résumé, it won’t be long before he is in the top five. For now, he is at No. 8, but trending upwards.

The Giants have had many great offensive linemen throughout the course of the franchise’s history. Many times offensive linemen tend to go overlooked, but that’s surely not the case with Big Blue’s second first-round selection in 1984.

The G-Men took William Roberts out of Ohio State with the No. 27 overall pick. The 6-foot-5, 291-pound offensive lineman would spend the next decade playing guard and tackle for the Giants. Roberts started in 127 games, mostly at guard, helping the franchise hoist two Lombardi Trophies during the 1986 and 1990 seasons.

Roberts was named to the Pro Bowl in 1990 and continued to make an impact late in his career. After spending his first 10 seasons in the Big Apple, Roberts joined former Giants head coach Bill Parcells in the New England Patriots.

In two seasons, Roberts started 27 games for the Patriots and helped the team reach its second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Roberts would follow Parcells one last time to the New York Jets, playing in 12 games in his final season.

From 1988 to 1996, Roberts did not miss a single regular season game. He finished his career as a one-time Pro Bowler with 154 career starts and two Super Bowl rings.

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.

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.

In 1979, the Giants selected Morehead State quarterback Phil Simms with the No. 7 overall pick. The former Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year was George Young’s first selection as Big Blue’s general manager.

Simms got off to a slow start but found his form in his fifth season, helping the Giants reach the postseason with 4,044 passing yards. Through 14 NFL seasons, Simms helped the G-Men make the playoffs six times, but missed New York’s Super Bowl run in 1990 due to a broken foot.

He will always be remembered for his performance in Super Bowl XXI though. Simms was named Super Bowl MVP after completing 22-of-25 passes for 268 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The 39-20 victory resulted in the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy.

Simms was also a two-time Pro Bowler. He led the Giants to a 95-64 regular season record and was 6-4 in the postseason. Injuries are the biggest reason Simms is not higher on this list. He only completed a full 16-game slate four times during his NFL career.

Despite that, he still one of Big Blue’s all-time greats. He has already been inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor. Simms holds the second most passing yards (33,462) and second most passing touchdowns (199) in franchise history, trailing only the next player on this list.

The Giants pulled off a blockbuster trade in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, landing their future franchise quarterback Eli Manning.

Former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi wanted to take Manning with the No. 4 overall pick, but had planned to take Ben Roethlisberger if the Ole Miss quarterback was not available, according to the New York Post.

The Giants ended up striking a deal with the then-San Diego Chargers, selecting Philip Rivers and then trading him, a third-round pick in 2004, and first and fifth-round picks in 2005 for Manning.

Big Blue’s 37-year-old quarterback will be entering his 15th season with the franchise in 2018. Manning is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl MVP. He holds every notable quarterback record with the Giants, including wins (111), yards (51,682), and touchdowns (339). He also has taken the most losses (103) and has thrown the most interceptions (228) in franchise history, according to Pro Football Reference.

Manning has been the definition of an iron man for the Giants, starting 210 consecutive games for Big Blue. The streak only ended because Ben McAdoo wanted to play Geno Smith. No, that did not end well, as that was McAdoo’s last game as the Giants head coach. He would be fired after losing to the Oakland Raiders.

Despite constant criticism behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines in recent years, Manning has continued to show his true colors. He has been the ultimate team player and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2016.

While Manning has struggled to stay consistent during the regular season, he has proven himself a clutch performer in the postseason. He holds an 8-4 record in the playoffs and has thrown 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions in the postseason.

Some may call his pass to David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII luck, but the same can’t be said for his pass to Mario Manningham in Super Bowl XLVI. Manning may not have a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame resume, but No. 10 will undoubtedly find himself in Canton some day.

His career numbers and postseason play make him the greatest quarterback in Giants history.

The top two players on this list should come as no surprise. George Connor, Frank Gifford and the No. 1 player on this list are the only Giants first-round picks to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gifford was a First-Team All-American coming out of USC and was the No. 11 overall pick in 1952. Big Blue’s Hall of Fame halfback left a lasting legacy both on the field and in the broadcast booth.

He was a four-time first-team All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowler and an NFL champion. Gifford was the league’s Player of the Year in 1956 when he accounted 1,422 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns in just 12 games. He still holds the second most receiving yards (5,434), eighth most rushing yards (3,609) and most touchdowns (78) in franchise history, excluding quarterbacks.

He was the definition of versatile, playing three different positions throughout his NFL career, including defensive back. In fact, one of his touchdowns came on a pick-six. He also threw 14 touchdown passes, which are not included in his franchise record.

Gifford spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Giants.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. The Giants legend is also member of the 1950s All-Decade Team. Gifford died in August, 2015 at the age of 84. His No. 16 jersey was retired in 2000.

In 1981, the Giants made arguably their greatest selection in franchise history. Big Blue took ACC Player of the Year Lawrence Taylor with the second overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft.

Taylor quickly made his presence felt at the next level, winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in his rookie season. He would go on to win the award two more times and is the last defensive player to win league MVP in 1986.

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Taylor is not only arguably the greatest Giant to ever wear the uniform, he may be the NFL’s best defensive player of all-time. NFL Network’s Elliot Harrison surely thinks so, placing Taylor No. 1 on his list of top 10 defensive players all-time.

The 10-time Pro Bowler spent his entire 13-year career with the Giants, helping the franchise win its first two Lombardi Trophies. He holds the second most sacks (132.5) in franchise history, trailing only fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. But it also has to be noted that Taylor’s sacks in his rookie year were not accounted for.

Taylor started in 15 career playoff games and logged an incredible 180 regular season starts for the Giants. He is one of just seven linebackers named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Next: Top 10 plays in New York Giants Super Bowl history

L.T.’s place in Giants history will never be forgotten, nor will his bone-crushing hits on opposing quarterbacks. The league may never see another player as fierce as Taylor and most Giants fans are fine with that.