ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak dropped a very extensive and unique list on July 3, identifying the best player to be drafted at each slot in the order “since the common draft era began” in 1967, and eight New York Giants made the cut. Starting with legendary pass rusher Lawrence Taylor in 1981.
Solak determined that Taylor is the best No. 2 overall selection throughout NFL history.
Writing: “The best defensive player of all time is also the best second overall pick of all time. Taylor is one of two defensive players to ever win league MVP (in 1986, joining defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971), and that rarefied air all but cements him over contenders such as Marshall Faulk, Julius Peppers and Calvin Johnson.”
Taylor also took down a former Giants superstar turned rival in running back Saquon Barkley.
“Modern contenders such as Von Miller, Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa are excellent in their time but don’t hold a candle to L.T., who finished his 13-year career with 142 sacks,” Solak noted.
After Taylor, seven other Giants draft picks made Solak’s list.
Giants Pass Rushers Michael Strahan & Osi Umenyiora Round out Best NYG Top 100 NFL Draft Picks
The Giants’ identity has always been a fearsome pass rush, and that lines up with their best top 100 NFL draft picks on this list.
Along with Taylor, Solak credited Michael Strahan with being the best-ever prospect taken at 40th overall (1993), and fellow defensive end Osi Umenyiora as the best-ever prospect taken at No. 56 overall (2003).
“The little 8-year-old [Philadelphia] Eagles fan in me still resents Strahan, who terrorized Donovan McNabb and my beloved Birds for years,” Solak wrote for the former. “I really wanted to pick Thurman Thomas here — an MVP winner at running back whose number is retired in Buffalo. But Strahan’s 22.5-sack season in 2001, his final-season performance in the Giants’ magical Super Bowl XLII run … it’s just too tough to argue against.”
As for Umenyiora, he seemed to have less competition at 56.
“Umenyiora wasn’t consistently dominant, but his peaks made him the pick at No. 56,” Solak explained. “In the 2007 Super Bowl season, Umenyiora was quieter in the postseason but excellent in the regular season, with 13 sacks and a Pro Bowl. In the 2011 Super Bowl season, he was quieter in the regular season but dominant in the playoffs — 3.5 sacks over four games. Key roles in big seasons can make the difference in this exercise.”
Final Giants Draft Picks Who Made Solak’s List
After the top 100 slots in the order, the Giants were given five more representatives. They were:
- Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson (No. 105 in 1976), a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion in 1986.
- Two-time Super Bowl champion offensive lineman David Diehl (No. 160 in 2003), who made one Pro Bowl and started 171 games between the regular season and postseason combined.
- Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Armstead (No. 207 in 1993), who earned one All-Pro honor and logged 41.5 career sacks and 68 tackles for a loss since the stat started being recorded in 1999.
- Super Bowl champion wide receiver David Tyree (No. 211 in 2003), who made one Pro Bowl but is truly remembered for his famed Super Bowl catch.
- Super Bowl champion guard Billy Ard (No. 221 in 1981), who started 130 NFL games for the Giants and Green Bay Packers, including the playoffs.
Notably, three of the Giants on Solak’s list were drafted in 2003, two of them were drafted in 1993, and another two were selected in 1981. Making those three of Big Blue’s best draft classes of all time.
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