Top 10 Giants first-round picks since 2000 NFL Draft
Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr in the second quarter of an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 23, 2014. Credit: AP/Julio Cortez
The Giants struck gold the last two seasons with their three first-round picks. Malik Nabers, Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter proved themselves as building blocks for the future.
Time will tell how their Giants careers go. The same will hold true for the player the team drafts with the No. 5 pick this year. But this century has seen several Giants first-round picks thrive and leave their mark on the franchise.
Here are the 10 best Giants first-round picks since the 2000 NFL Draft
10. Justin Pugh, OL, 2013
Pugh was a reliable starter his first five seasons, including all 16 games as a rookie. The Giants moved on from him after 2017 but he returned in 2023 and started 12 games in his final season. In total, he started 75 games for the Giants.
9. Kenny Phillips, DB, 2008
Phillips’ career is a great what-if. He had two interceptions in Week 2 in 2009 before a knee injury ended his season. In 2011, he had four interceptions and started in the Giants’ Super Bowl win. Knee injuries, however, ended his Giants tenure in 2012 after seven games. He was great in the secondary but health prevented him from maintaining that potential.
8. Hakeem Nicks, WR, 2009
Nicks produced two 1,000-yard seasons in six years with the Giants and is ninth in franchise history with 4,676 receiving yards. After a career-high 1,192 yards in the 2011 regular season, Nicks raised his game in the playoffs with a team-high 28 receptions and 444 yards as the Giants won their last Super Bowl.
7. Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, 2006
The last first-round pick of the 2006 draft, Kiwanuka was a steady presence over nine seasons. He won two Super Bowls and had a career-high eight sacks in 2008. In addition to 38.5 career sacks, he forced 12 fumbles while being a force up front with another player on this list.
6. Andrew Thomas, OL, 2020
Right now, Thomas is the Giants’ best first-round pick of the 2020s. He’s among the NFL’s best left tackles and regained his form in 2025 after being injured during 2023 and 204. Thomas has made 73 starts so far and was a second team All-Pro in 2022.
5. Jeremy Shockey, TE, 2002
Shockey’s personality often spoke louder than his game, but he made four Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team in six Giants seasons. He was a steady pass-catcher and great blocker and ended his tenure with a Super Bowl ring, even though he was hurt right before the team’s playoff run.
4. Dexter Lawrence, DT, 2019
The recently traded Lawrence's resume speaks for itself: Three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro teams and consistently regarded among the NFL’s best defensive tackles. The Bengals are hoping last season was an aberration after just a half-sack, because at his best he’s as disruptive as anybody in the league, drawing constant double teams up front.
3. Saquon Barkley, RB, 2018
Barkley proved himself worthy of the No. 2 overall pick with over 2,000 scrimmage yards as a rookie. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year, made two Pro Bowls, was a team leader on and off the field and had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons despite an ACL injury in 2020. Yet the way his tenure ended with Barkley not getting the contract he desired makes it sting seeing him thrive the last two years with the Eagles, including a Super Bowl win.
2. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, 2014
It’s wild remembering that Beckham played only five Giants seasons. But that short stint was filled with incredible highlights, dynamic play and memorable catches, including his one-handed snag against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Few receivers were more productive in Giants history than Beckham, who had four 1,000-yard seasons and won Offensive Rookie of the Year.
1. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, 2010
Pierre-Paul made his only All-Pro team in his second Giants season, but it was well earned with 16 1/2 sacks for the Super Bowl champs. It was quite the leap after not starting as a rookie and Pierre-Paul stayed productive the rest of his Giants tenure, even after a fireworks injury led to his right index finger being amputated. In eight seasons, Pierre-Paul made two Pro Bowls and had 58 1/2 sacks, including 12 1/2 in 2014.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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