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NY Giants all-time first-round draft pick squad

By Connor McJunkin

Lawrence Taylor #56, Linebacker the New York Giants during the National Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Rams on 12 November1989 at the Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California, United States. The Rams won the game 31 - 10. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)
Lawrence Taylor #56, Linebacker the New York Giants during the National Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Rams on 12 November1989 at the Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California, United States. The Rams won the game 31 - 10. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Phil Simms of the NY Giants (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)
Phil Simms of the NY Giants (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /

Offense

Quarterback

Phil Simms, 1979 Draft/Pick #7, Morehead State

This was a pretty easy decision. Since we are basing it off players the New York Giants have actually drafted, Eli Manning doesn’t meet the criteria and since Phillip Rivers never played a down in a Big Blue uniform, he’s cut too.

That leaves Simms as the signal-caller for this team.

Although many considered the pick to be a huge reach (where have we heard that before?), Simms would only go on to help win the franchise’s first two Super Bowls, be named MVP of Super Bowl XXI, become a First-Team All-Pro and NFL MVP in 1986, retired as the franchise’s leader in every major passing category, have his number retired, and be inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor.

That’s not half bad in my book.

Running Back

Frank Gifford, 1952 NFL Draft/#11 Pick, USC

While sometimes pushed to the side when mentioning Giants greats at running back, Gifford was one of the most accomplished running backs of his era.

He would spend his entire NFL career (1952-1964) with Big Blue and was an 8-time Pro Bowler, 6-time All-Pro, the NFL MVP in 1956, a member of the 1950s NFL All-Decade Team, had his jersey retired by the franchise, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He’d finish his career with over 3,600 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns and is currently No. 8 on the franchise all-time rushing yards list and seventh in franchise rushing touchdowns.

Rodney Hampton, 1990 NFL Draft/Pick #24, Georgia

Hampton is an all-time underrated Giants player and fan-favorite who was the workhorse of the franchise for the majority of the 1990s.

He would play his entire career for the G-Men (1990-1997) and produced 1,000+ yard rushing seasons each year from 1991-1995 and was selected to back-to-back Pro-Bowls in 1992-1993.

Mounting injuries ultimately caught up with the running back, who retired as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. Today, his 6,897 rushing yards are second to Tiki Barber and his 49 career rushing touchdowns ranks him third all-time in team history.

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