NY Giants all-time first-round draft pick squad

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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NY Giants Mathias Kiwanuka  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NY Giants Mathias Kiwanuka  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Defense

Defensive Line

Fred Dryer, 1969 NFL Draft/Pick #13, San Diego State

Dryer had one of the shortest tenures of any of the players on this list, but there’s no denying the talent and production he brought to the team from 1969-1971.

In each of those three seasons, he led the team in quarterback sacks with 8.5, 12, and 8.5. During his rookie year he recorded 58 tackles (39 solo), six passes deflected, forced two fumbles, and recovered two en route to making the NFL-All Rookie Team.

Jason Pierre-Paul, 2010 NFL Draft/Pick #15, South Florida

One of the best pass rushers in franchise history, JPP was a sack-master during his run with the G-Men from 2010-2017, putting together his best season during Big Blue’s 2011 Super Bowl run.

In his eight years with the Giants, JPP recorded 58.5 sacks, 87 tackle for loss, and 13 forced fumbles. He was named to the Pro-Bowl in 2011 and 2012 and was named a First-Team All-Pro during his career-best 16.5 sack, 23 TFL season in 2011.

Mathias Kiwanuka, 2006 NFL Draft/Pick #32, Boston College

Although Kiwanuka played both defensive end and linebacker during his Giants career, we’ll consider him a defensive end since that was what he was originally drafted as.

Kiwanuka was an underrated piece of the monster defensive line unit of the early 2010s and although he never produced eye-popping stats, he was a consistent pass-rusher during his nine-year career. He finished his career with 38.5 sacks, 69 tackles for loss, and 13 forced fumbles.

Dexter Lawrence, 2019 NFL Draft/Pick #17, Clemson 

By far the player with the shortest tenure with the Giants to make this team, but due to lack of other options and his great rookie season, Lawrence finds himself on this list.

Lawrence started all 16 games last season, recording 2.5 sacks, 38 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 29 QB pressures. His 76.1 grade made him the highest-graded rookie interior defensive lineman in the NFL.

Schedule