Ranking The 5 Best Draft Picks In New York Giants History

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 03: Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor attends a game between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts on November 3, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Colts defeated the Giants 40-24. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

As one of the NFL’s oldest franchises, the New York Giants have taken part in every NFL Draft and picked up many of the league’s all-time greats.

With the Giants picking sixth in the 2024 NFL Draft, they have a chance to add someone who could one join their Ring of Honor of over three dozen all-time great players.

So who are the five greatest draft picks that the Giants have ever made?

Let’s take a look and do our best to name the five best:

Honorable Mention: Philip Rivers – No. 4 overall, 2004 NFL Draft

Rivers is one of the most prolific quarterbacks ever – with the San Diego Chargers. He was technically the Giants’ draft pick in 2004 and the Giants wound up trading Rivers as part of the deal to acquire No. 1 overall pick Eli Manning, who led the team to two Super Bowls titles.

So you could make the argument that Rivers was a great draft pick because of who he helped them get. But that argument won’t earn him a spot on this list.

5. Phil Simms – No. 7 overall, 1979 NFL Draft

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – DECEMBER 14: Quarterback Phil Simms #11 of the New York Giants huddles with the offense, including wide receiver Stacy Robinson #81 and tight end Mark Bavaro #89, during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Giants Stadium on December 14, 1986 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Cardinals 27-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) George Gojkovich/Getty Images

The only offensive player to make this list, Simms might not have put up the gaudiest numbers of any quarterback ever, but he saved the best game of his career for the biggest game: Super Bowl XXI.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed a record 88-percent of his passes in that game – a record that still stands – in the Giants’ first-ever Super Bowl win. Canton may never come calling like it did for the other four men on this list, but Simms is still beloved by Giants.

4. Sam Huff – No. 30 overall, 1956 NFL Draft

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Former New York Giant Sam Huff is introduced during a half time ceremony of a game between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos honoring former head coach Bill Parcells at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, September 15 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Broncos defeated the Giants 41-23. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

One of many legends to play for the Giants in the 1950s and 1960s, Huff was an elite linebacker who helped the team win the 1956 NFL Championship and earned All-Pro honors six times during his eight years in New York. He is one of the few players in NFL history to be a part of two team hall of fames, as he is part of the Washington Commanders Ring of Fame as well.

Huff was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

3. Harry Carson – No. 105 overall, 1976 NFL Draft

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 20: Harry Carson #53 of the New York Giants in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game November 20, 1983 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carson played for the Giants from 1976-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) Focus On Sport/Getty Images

The 80s Giants’ 3-4 defense worked so well in large part because he had an elite linebacker serving as their on-field general. That general was Harry Carson, who made nine Pro Bowls while doing the dirty work on the Giants defense for over a decade.

You can’t even credit Carson’s success to the presence of other Giants legends like Lawrence Taylor or Carl Banks because Carson was a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection for several years before those two even arrived. But when they did, the Giants linebacking corps became a force to be reckoned with.

2. Michael Strahan – No. 40 overall, 1993 NFL Draft

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 15: Former NY Giant and star of upcoming FOX comedy series “Brothers,” Michael Strahan attends the Fox “Brothers” Challenge at the New York Giants Timex Performance Center on September 15, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Fox) Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Fox.

The man who still holds the record for most sacks in a single season since the stat became official, Strahan was one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers in the late-90s and early-2000s, racking up 141.5 sacks during his Hall of Fame career.

The 2001 season was his masterpiece as he set an NFL record with 22.5 sacks that year en route to NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. He also got to go out on top, helping the Giants to an historic upset over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

1. Lawrence Taylor – No. 2 overall, 1981 NFL Draft

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)

LT is the greatest player in Giants history and the greatest defender in NFL history. He changed the game, dominated the game and ranks among the most intimidating men to ever step onto an NFL field.