List of New York Giants first-round draft picks
The New York Giants are a National Football League (NFL) franchise founded in the 1925 season, the NFL's sixth.[1] Eleven years later, the league introduced the NFL Draft after team owners voted on it in 1935. The intention of the draft was to make the NFL more competitive, as a few stronger teams, including the Giants, had an advantage in signing young players because they were able to offer higher salaries and an opportunity to compete for championships.[2] Since that first draft, the Giants have selected 79 players in the first round. The team's first-round pick in the inaugural NFL Draft was Art Lewis, a tackle from Ohio University; he was the 9th overall selection. In the most recent draft, held in 2020, the Giants chose Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas.
Officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting", but more often called the NFL Draft,[3] the event is the NFL's primary mechanism for distributing newly professional players finished with their college football careers to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks.[4] Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the Super Bowl runner-up and champion.[5] Draft picks are tradable, and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[4][5]
Of the 79 players drafted by the Giants in the first round, 27 played at one of the running back positions. Of these, 10 were halfbacks and six were fullbacks, and the remaining 11 are credited as backs, blocking backs, or running backs. Among other frequently drafted positions, the Giants have chosen nine offensive tackles, eight defensive backs, six defensive ends, five defensive tackles, five quarterbacks, and five wide receivers. Five of the Giants' first-round picks attended the University of Notre Dame, more than any other college. Four picks came from Miami, while nine universities have had three players selected.[6] The Giants have held the first overall pick twice, in 1951 and 1965, selecting Kyle Rote and Tucker Frederickson. Three of the team's first-round picks—George Connor, Frank Gifford, and Lawrence Taylor—have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Giants did not draft a player in the first round on 11 occasions. Two of those picks, for the 1967 and 1968 drafts, were traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1967 as part of a deal for quarterback Fran Tarkenton.[7] During the 1974 season, the Giants dealt their 1975 first-round choice to the Dallas Cowboys for another quarterback, Craig Morton.[8] In another case when the Giants used first-round draft picks to trade for a quarterback, the team acquired 2004 first overall pick Eli Manning from the San Diego Chargers, in a deal that included their 2004 and 2005 first-round picks; the Giants had already selected Philip Rivers with the 2004 pick, the fourth in that year's draft.[9] The Giants used multiple first-round selections in 1951, 1972, 1984, and 2019; in the second instance; they gained a selection by trading Tarkenton back to the Vikings.[10]
Key
^ | Indicates the player was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. |
---|---|
— | The Giants did not draft a player in the first round that year. |
Year | Each year links to an article about that particular NFL Draft. |
Pick | Indicates the number of the pick within the first round |
Position | Indicates the position of the player in the NFL |
College | The player's college football team |
Player selections
Notes
- a From 1947 to 1958, the NFL held an annual lottery that decided which team would select first overall in the draft with a "bonus pick". The Giants won the bonus lottery in 1951, giving them the first choice in that year's draft.[99]
- b The 1951 draft was the second in which Spavital was selected. The Chicago Cardinals had chosen him in the first round of the 1948 draft.[100] Spavital was one of 28 Baltimore Colts players who became eligible for the 1951 draft when that franchise became defunct.[101]
- c The Giants traded their 1954 first-round draft pick to the Green Bay Packers.[102]
- d The Giants traded their 1956 first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Rams.[102]
- e In 1956, the Giants traded their 1957 first-round draft pick to the Rams in exchange for defensive end Andy Robustelli.[103]
- f In 1959, the Giants traded their 1961 first-round draft pick to the Baltimore Colts in exchange for quarterback George Shaw.[104][105][106] The Colts later traded the selection to the San Francisco 49ers for end Dee Mackey.[107]
- g In 1961, the Giants acquired a second 1962 first-round draft pick from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for George Shaw, then traded the selection to the Rams for wide receiver Del Shofner.[108][109]
- h In 1962, the Giants traded their 1963 first-round draft pick to the St. Louis Cardinals, along with Bill Triplett, in exchange for quarterback Ralph Guglielmi.[39][110]
- i1 i2 The Giants were awarded the first overall pick in 1967 or 1968 as compensation for the New York Jets joining the NFL as part of the league's merger with the American Football League. The choice was conditional upon the Giants selecting a quarterback; the team was allowed to trade the pick, if they received a starting quarterback in return.[111][112] In 1967, the Giants traded their 1967 and 1968 first-round draft picks, their 1967 second-round pick, and a player to be named later to the Vikings in exchange for quarterback Fran Tarkenton.[7] The New Orleans Saints were ultimately given the first overall pick in 1967 (before trading it to the Colts), dropping the Giants' former selection to second.[43]
- j In 1971, the Giants traded their original 1972 first-round draft pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for center Bob Hyland and cornerback Bennie McRae.[113] This pick was acquired from the Vikings, along with running back Vince Clements, center Bob Grim, quarterback Norm Snead, and a second-round pick in the 1973 draft, in exchange for Tarkenton.[10]
- k In 1972, the Giants traded their 1973 first- and second-round draft picks to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive end Jack Gregory and defensive back Freddie Summers.[114]
- l In 1974, the Giants traded their 1975 first-round draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for quarterback Craig Morton.[8]
- m This pick was acquired from the Washington Redskins in exchange for second- and fifth-round draft picks.[115]
- n The Giants selected quarterback Dave Brown in the first round of the 1992 supplemental draft, and as a result forfeited their 1993 first-round draft pick.[116]
- o During the 2001 draft, the Giants acquired this pick from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their original first-round selection (30th in the draft) and picks in rounds three and six.[117]
- p During the 2002 draft, the Giants acquired this pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for their original first-round selection (15th in the draft) and a fourth-round pick.[118]
- q1 q2 After drafting Rivers, the Giants traded him to the San Diego Chargers, along with their 2004 third-round pick and 2005 first- and fifth-round choice, in exchange for quarterback Eli Manning, the first overall pick.[119]
- r During the 2006 draft, the Giants acquired this pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with third- and fourth-round selections, in exchange for their original first-round choice (25th in the draft).[120]
- s This pick was acquired from the Browns, along with safety Jabrill Peppers and a third-round draft pick, in exchange for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.[121]
- t During the 2019 draft, the Giants acquired this pick from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for three draft picks.[122]
References
- General
- Cavanaugh, Jack (2008). Giants Among Men: How Robustelli, Huff, Gifford, and the Giants Made New York a Football Town and Changed the NFL. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6.
- Dillman, Bradford (1994). Inside the New York Giants: A Player Review and Rating System 1967–1994. Third Story Books. ISBN 978-1-884506-16-1.
- "History: Pro Football Hall Of Famers By Draft Round". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- Huff, Sam (1989). Tough Stuff: The Man in the Middle. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-0-312-91700-5.
- MacCambridge, Michael (2004). America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation. Random House. ISBN 978-0-375-50454-9.
- Maxymuk, John (2007). Strong Arm Tactics: A History and Statistical Analysis of the Professional Quarterback. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-3277-6.
- New York Football Giants 2017 Information Guide (PDF). New York Giants. 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- "New York Giants Draft History". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- Whittingham, Richard (2005). Illustrated History of the New York Giants. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-57243-641-1.
- Specific
- Whittingham, p. 3.
- MacCambridge, pp. 43–44.
- "AFL Stars Among Former NFL Draftees". Arena Football League. April 25, 2013. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
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- Whittingham, p. 145.
- Whittingham, pp. 166–168.
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- Maule, Tex (February 7, 1972). "Scramble Back To The Deep Purple". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
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- "1942 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- "1943 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
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- "1945 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1946". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
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- "1948 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- "1949 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- "1950 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- "1951 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1951". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- "1952 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1953". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1954". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- "1955 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1956". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1957". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "1958 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1959". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "1960 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1961". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "1962 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1963". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "1964 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- Costello, Brian (April 24, 2005). "Whatever Happened To ... Tucker Frederickson". New York Post. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1966". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1967". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1968". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- Dillman, p. 20.
- Dillman, p. 24.
- "1971 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
- "1972 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1973". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
- Dillman, p. 40.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1975". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- Dillman, p. 48.
- Dillman, p. 52.
- Marshall, Joe (May 15, 1978). "It Was The Same Old Song And Dance". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- Dillman, p. 60.
- Dillman, p. 64.
- Dillman, p. 68.
- Dillman, p. 72.
- Dillman, p. 76.
- Janofsky, Michael (May 2, 1984). "Focus Is On Defense In the N.F.L. Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- Dillman, p. 80.
- Oates, Bob (May 1, 1985). "NFL Draft: USC's Bickett, Ruettgers Taken Early as Teams Put Their Picks on the Line". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
- Dillman, p. 88.
- Dillman, p. 92.
- Dillman, p. 96.
- Dillman, p. 100.
- Branch, John (April 29, 2006). "Never a Featured Back, Not Yet on the Marquee". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- "NFL Draft – Team By Team". Tulsa World. April 28, 1992. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1993". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- "1994 Nfl Draft". Hartford Courant. April 25, 1994. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1995". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
- Schwartz, Paul (April 19, 2010). "Jones pick burned Giants". New York Post. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1997". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 1998". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
- "Giants surprise with OT Luke Petitgout". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. April 17, 1999. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
- Darcy, Kieran (October 29, 2011). "Great Dayne". ESPN New York. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 2001". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- Canavan, Tom (April 20, 2002). "To No One's Surprise, Giants Draft Jeremy Shockey". Miami Hurricanes. Associated Press. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 2003". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 2004". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "Pro Football Draft History: 2005". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "2006 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "2007 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "2008 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- "2009 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- Caldwell, Dave (April 22, 2010). "Giants Add Acrobatic End to Defense". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- "2011 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- Youngmisuk, Ohm (April 27, 2012). "Giants draft David Wilson in Round 1". ESPN New York. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- Youngmisuk, Ohm (April 26, 2013). "Giants draft Justin Pugh at No. 19". ESPN New York. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- Abramson, Mitch (May 9, 2014). "NFL Draft: NY Giants take LSU WR Odell Beckham Jr". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- Pennington, Bill (April 30, 2015). "Giants Draft Ereck Flowers, Not the Offensive Lineman They Wanted". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- Pennington, Bill (April 28, 2016). "In Eli Apple, Giants Add a Defensive Force With 10th Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Pedulla, Tom (April 27, 2017). "Giants Add Wrinkle to Offense in Mississippi Tight End Evan Engram". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- Rock, Tom (April 26, 2018). "NFL Draft: Giants select RB Saquon Barkley with No. 2 pick". Newsday. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- Raanan, Jordan (April 26, 2019). "Giants draft Duke QB Jones as Eli's potential heir". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- Leonard, Pat (April 25, 2019). "Giants select Clemson's Dexter Lawrence with No. 17 overall pick". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- Weiszer, Marc (April 26, 2019). "New York Giants make Georgia's Deandre Baker first cornerback selected in 2019 NFL draft". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- Stapleton, Art (April 23, 2020). "NFL draft: Giants select tackle Andrew Thomas with No. 4 pick to shore up offensive line". USA Today. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- Kosakowski, Donald (1984). "Bonus Picks" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 6 (9–10). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
- Ojeda, Francisco (July 30, 2014). "Spavital's not all talk, unless it's football". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- "Giants Choose Rote as Top Draft Pick". The Daily Illini. Associated Press. January 19, 1951. pp. 6–7. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- New York Football Giants 2017 Information Guide, p. 329.
- Cavanaugh, pp. 9–10.
- Maxymuk, p. 23.
- New York Football Giants 2017 Information Guide, p. 330.
- Cavanaugh, p. 188.
- "Weeb Elated Over Selection Of Tom Matte". The Frederick News. Associated Press. December 28, 1960. p. 9. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- "George Shaw Swapped To New Vikings By Giants". The Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. January 12, 1961. p. 6. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- Huff, p. 127.
- "Trade to Champion Giants Delights Veteran Guglielmi". The Spokesman-Review. May 11, 1962. p. 18. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- Wallace, William N. (October 25, 1966). "Giants To Get Top College Quarterback". Chicago Tribune. pp. C1–C2.
- MacCambridge, p. 224.
- Hershberg, Neil (September 14, 1971). "Giants, Bears in grid trade". The Bryan Times. United Press International. p. 10. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- "Browns Trade Jack Gregory". Pittsburgh Press. June 16, 1972. p. 32. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- Daly, Dan (March 14, 2012). "A look at all those Redskins No. 1s George Allen and Bobby Beathard traded away". The Washington Times. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- "Giants choose Brown in supplemental draft". Hendersonville Times-News. July 10, 1992. p. 1B. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- "Covering all the bases: Giants trade up to grab much-needed cornerback". CNN Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. April 21, 2001. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- "2002 NFL Draft Trades – Saturday". CNN Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. April 21, 2002. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- Hutchinson, Dave (December 5, 2013). "The Eli Manning–Philip Rivers trade revisisted". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- Youngmisuk, Ohm (April 23, 2011). "Moss, Kiwanuka tell story of 2006 draft". ESPN New York. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- Barnwell, Bill (March 13, 2019). "Grading the Odell Beckham Jr. trade from Giants to Browns: Who won?". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- Moraitis, Mike (April 26, 2019). "Trade breakdown: Giants sent three picks to Seahawks for No. 30". USA Today. Retrieved April 28, 2019.