Over the course of the NY Giants long history in which they've won eight championships (four Super Bowls), the team has drafted some truly elite talent. Whether it be obvious picks to make in the first round, or finding gems in the later rounds, New York always finds a way to bring in great players through the draft.
These 10 players were all drafted by the Giants at one point or another and made a massive impact. Some were high-round, elite prospects, and others are some incredible draft steals:
10. RB Tiki Barber
It may have taken him time to catch on. However, once in his prime, there may not have been a better running back in the NFL than Tiki Barber. While he, unfortunately, retired earlier than he should have, costing him a Super Bowl ring, there's no doubt that Barber is one of the most talented players the Giants have ever seen.
Drafted 36th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, it would take Barber four seasons to reach his first 1,000+ yard campaign. Once reaching this goal, though, Barber would rip off 1,200+ yards in five of his next six seasons. In addition to this, Barber also made three Pro Bowls, an All-Pro appearance, and even came fourth in MVP voting during the 2005 season.
In his best season, Barber ran the ball 357 times for 1,860 yards, and nine touchdowns while simultaneously catching 54 passes for 530 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to being easily the best running back in Giants' history, he's also one of the team's best receivers. Barber ranks second all time in receptions and fourth all-time in receiving yards in Giants history.
9. DB Jimmy Patton
Jimmy Patton is a player who is seemingly forgotten by the average fan. Despite this, he still had a hell of a career considering that he was an eighth-round pick. While there weren't as many teams in the league as there are today when Patton was selected, he was still taken 92nd overall.
Patton would spend his entire 12-year career with the Giants and was a key contributor to their 1956 NFL Championship win against the Bears. During his career, Patton would make five Pro Bowls and five All-Pro First-Team selections. In addition to this, Patton also ranks second all time in Giants interceptions behind just Emlen Tunnell, who ranks second in interceptions in NFL history.
Unfortunately for Tunnell, though, he wasn't technically drafted by the Giants, so he won't be on the list. However, we're here to talk about Patton, who put together a remarkable career on his own. We may not have been around to see it, but a secondary that comprised of both Tunnell and Patton had to have given opposing offenses nightmares.
Patton is one of the best players the Giants' defense has ever seen. His ball-hawking ability for his time was nearly unheard of. Hopefully, more people will begin to recognize what a special talent he was for the Giants.
8. DB/DC Tom Landry
Almost everyone knows Tom Landry for his time as the Giants defensive coordinator or his 29-year-long reign as head coach of the Cowboys. However, not everyone knows that Landry was actually drafted by the Giants 184th overall in the 1947 NFL Draft.
During his time with the Giants, Landry was both a punter and defensive back. He may not have been the Giants' best player at the time, but he was still great nonetheless. Landry would lead the NFL in punt yards three times during his seven-year career while also snagging 32 interceptions. In addition to this, Landry also made one Pro Bowl and an All-Pro First-Team selection in the 1954 season.
However, just two years after his All-Pro season, Landry would retire as a player and become the Giants' defensive coordinator. Not long after this, Landry developed the infamous 4-3 defense that helped turned the Giants from fringe contenders, to NFL Champions in just one season.
Landry not only changed the course of Giants' history, but the NFL's as well. The 4-3 defense would soon be adapted by multiple teams and is still used to this day. At the time, there may not have been a better football mind than Landry himself.
7. QB Phil Simms
If Phil Simms had been healthy enough to bring the Giants their second Super Bowl title in 1990, he'd likely be much higher on this list. However, there's no denying the impact Simms had on the Giants' Super Bowl odds during the 80s and 90s. While those Giants teams were always built around defense, the Giants' offense would not have been nearly what it was without Simms.
Simms consistently put below-average offenses on his back and led the Giants to multiple 10-win seasons before his retirement in 1993. By that point, Simms was a two-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Pro Bowler, and was the Giants leader in just about every major passing category.
His career may not have been anything crazy aside for his Super Bowl runs. However, playing the most important position in the sport definitely gives Simms an edge over some of the players who arguably should be above him.
If not for Simms, who knows if the Giants would have their two Super Bowl rings in 1986 and 1990. Sure, Jeff Hostetler won the big game in 1990, but could he have led that Giants team to the playoffs to even get them in that position like Simms did?
6. LB Sam Huff
He may not have some ridiculously insane career accolades wise. However, Sam Huff's legacy will forever live on in NFL history. Not only was he a very special talent at linebacker, but he was also the first 4-3 'backer the league had ever seen and he couldn't have done a better job executing this role.
After being selected 30th overall in the 1956 NFL Draft, Huff would immediately be thrust into this new 4-3 role and it didn't take much time at all to catch on. Following a rookie season in which the Giants would win the 1956 NFL Championship, Huff would rip off four straight All-Pro appearances while also making four Pro Bowls as well.
In addition to this, Huff also ranked third and fourth in MVP voting during the 1958 and 1959 seasons. The impact he had on the Giants during this time cannot be understated. To be a rookie and excel in a completely brand-new concept the sport had never seen before is insane. Let alone have an incredibly productive 13-year career.
5. LB Harry Carson
One of the most important pieces to the Giants' Super Bowl run in 1986 was Harry Carson. While he often gets overshadowed by Lawrence Taylor, he was still a crucial member of the crunch bunch that brought the Giants the most success the team had seen since the 50s.
While he wouldn't be around during the team's Super Bowl victory in 1990, this doesn't take away from how special of a talent he was. During his 13-season career, all spent with the Giants, Carson made nine Pro Bowls and four second-team All-Pro selections.
Carson was taken 105th overall in the 1976 NFL Draft. This means that the NY Giants managed to snag a future Hall of Famer in the fourth round. This sort of value, as we all know, is what separates good teams from great ones. Without Carson, things could have been very different for the Giants in the 80s.
Considering how poor the Giants' drafting has been in the later rounds recently, it has us hoping that maybe they can find their Carson soon. Obtaining a starting-level player, let alone a Hall of Famer, in the fourth round could be what takes the team over the top in the next couple of seasons.
4. RB/WR Frank Gifford
Throughout the NY Giants' history, a player who consistently becomes underrated is Frank Gifford. This is honestly surprising considering how ridiculous of a career he had. Not only is Gifford one of the most versatile players in NFL history, but he's one of the few players in Giants history to win league MVP.
In his 12-year career, all spent with the Giants, Gifford would make eight Pro Bowls, four All-Pro First-Team selections, an All-Pro Second-Team selection, and would win league MVP in the 1956 season. In this same season, Gifford would be a huge part of the Giants' NFL Championship victory against the Bears.
Gifford ranks third in receiving yards, seventh in receptions, fifth in receiving touchdowns, ninth in rushing yards, and seventh in rushing touchdowns. This sort of versatility is just ridiculous for any player, let alone a Hall of Famer.
Everyone knows how incredibly stacked the Giants' 1956 championship squad was. However, there may not have been a player on that roster better than Gifford. He may not have been a draft steal considering he was taken 11th overall in the 1952 NFL Draft. However, there's no doubt how insanely talented Gifford was for his time.
3. Pass-rusher Michael Strahan
For being a second-round pick, I think it's safe to say the Giants got a steal when they took Michael Strahan in the 1993 NFL Draft. While it would take him a couple of years to catch on, once he entered his prime it was over for the league. At his peak, there may not have been a better pass-rusher in the NFL.
Whether it be his seven Pro Bowl appearances, four First-Team All-Pro selections, two Second-Team All-Pro selections, his record-setting 22.5 sack season in 2001, or Super Bowl title, there's no doubt about how elite Strahan was. In addition to this, Strahan is one of few Giants to win the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, taking the trophy home in the same legendary 2001 season.
Strahan ranks first in Giants history in tackles, tackles for loss, and is second in sacks. This dominance helped lead the Giants to two Super Bowl appearances during his 15-year career with the team in which they won one.
Not only was Strahan the Giants' best player defensively during these runs, but he was incredibly dominant in the playoffs. During the team's 2000 run, Strahan would rack up 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles; during the team's 2007 run, Strahan tallied two sacks, two forced fumbles, and 22 tackles. This level of dominance makes it easy to see why he's so high on the list.
2. OT Rosey Brown
Strahan might be the better player all-time than Rosey Brown. However, Brown's draft value makes him the better draft pick for the Giants. In the 1953 NFL Draft, the Giants would select Brown in the 27th round, 322nd overall. Considering how incredible of a player he was, Brown is easily one of the biggest draft steals in league history.
During his time in the NFL, Brown would make nine Pro Bowls, six First-Team All-Pro selections, and two All-Pro Second-Team selections. Alongside this, Brown was a key player on the Giants' 1956 NFL Championship squad.
It's just absurd to think about a player being selected 322nd overall and becoming one of the best offensive tackles in NFL history. The Giants clearly knew how talented he was, as he would start all 12 games in his rookie season and would continue this for all but three games in his 13-year career, all with the Giants.
Not only is Brown one of the best players at his position in NFL history, but he's arguably a top-five player the Giants have ever seen and one of the biggest draft steals ever. This makes it very easy to put him second on our list.
1. OLB Lawrence Taylor
This was the clear-cut, obvious choice for number one. I mean, Taylor may not be a "steal." However, he's the best player in Giants' history and arguably the greatest defensive player the league has ever seen. It's pretty clear to say that the second overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft panned out quite well for the Giants.
In Taylor's 13-season career, he made 10 Pro Bowls, was selected to eight All-Pro First Teams, two All-Pro Second Teams, won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and is even one of few defensive players to take home the league MVP. The level of dominance Taylor had on the field has really never been matched since he retired in 1993.
Not only was he an incredible player from an individual standpoint, but he was also the Giants' best player during their Super Bowl wins in 1986 and 1990. Taylor is just a ridiculous athletic specimen who had no match on the field on either side of the ball.
Taylor ranks first in Giants history in sacks and would likely lead in several other stats had they been recorded while he was playing. It's truly ridiculous to look at Taylor's resume and there genuinely may never be another defensive player as dominant as he was.
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