Giants' draft history: Who was the best third-round pick?

by Ed Valentine on Mar 16, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in News Comment 27 comments

Last week we started looking at the successes and failures of New York Giants' drafts since 1970.

We have covered the worst of the first round and the best of the second. Today, let's look at some of the best third-round choices during that time period. Vote for your choice as the best pick in the poll at the end of the post.

Here are some of the best players taken in the third round

John Mendenhall (DT, 1972) -- A mainstay of the Giants' defense throughout the 'Wilderness Years' of the 1970s. Spent eight years with the Giants, and was always a quality player
Jeff Hostetler (QB, 1984) -- Made his mark on Giants history by stepping in for the injured Phil Simms in 1990 and leading the Giants to a Super Bowl title.
Stephen Baker (WR, 1987) -- Couldn't leave him off the list, considering how faithful long-time BBV member 'SBakerTheTouchdownMaker' has been. Baker was a deep threat for the Giants for six season, catching 141 balls and averaging more than 18 yards per catch.
Greg Jackson (S, 1989) -- Had a 12-year NFL career, the first five with New York.
Ed McCaffrey (WR, 1991) -- Not sure he belongs here. Spent only the first three of his 13 NFL seasons with the Giants, and didn't blossom into a top-tier receiver until well after leaving New York. Still, had a long and productive career.
Brad Maynard (P, 1997) -- The Giants drafted him in the third round thinking he was the next Ray Guy. He never justified that, and moved on to the Bears after four years in New York. He is still Chicago's punter.
Will Peterson (CB, 2001) -- Drafted the same year as Will Allen, was to make up the 'Wills' and give the Giants a pair of shut-down corners for years. Injuries derailed him, and he is still kicking around the league as an extra corner.
Justin Tuck (DE, 2005) -- An All-Pro in 2008, I don't think anyone can argue that Tuck is the best player on the current Giants' defense.

Anyone else you can think of? Hopefully we will someday think Mario Manningham, last season's No. 3 selection, should join this list.

To me, this list is further evidence of how you can, and need to, find quality players throughout the draft. The fact that we go from 1972 to 1984 before finding a third-round pick who made a real impact speaks volumes about how poorly run the Giants were in the '70s.

Poll

Who is the best New York Giants' third-round draft choice since 1970?

John Mendenhall

39 votes

Jeff Hostetler

68 votes

Stephen Baker

6 votes

Greg Jackson

0 votes

Ed McCaffrey

9 votes

Brad Maynard

1 votes

Will Peterson

1 votes

Justin Tuck

457 votes

581 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Pretty open and shut case there for Tuck

Its a wonder how he fell that far, perhaps b/c he was at ND for the lean years

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Mar 16, 2009 7:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's because he came out early

If he would have stayed in school for his senior year he would have gone a lot higher.

by Mount17 on Mar 16, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

About Tuck

Tuck brokd his leg as a senior at ND so he fell in the draft. However, he did have a monster Junior year there and thats what the Gints banked on. And, of course, they were right.
Cleano

by Cleano on Mar 29, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watch this guy

Along the lines of Justin Tuck, Watch Rodrick Bunkley, nose guard of the Eagles,
The Giants really should have picked him up two years ago also. He came out of Florida and is a monster. I believe he broke the record for bench press at the combine.
cleano

by Cleano on Mar 29, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

will peterson..

don’t you mean William James? haha
I voted Tuck because he still has a long time to go and was already instrumental in a super bowl run.

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 16, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tuck

If I was voting (and I don’t) I think Tuck would be an obvious choice. Hostetler won a Super Bowl so he has a special place in Giants’ history, but he was never a great player. Tuck is a great player.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 16, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's Tuck all the way. Jeff did a remarkable job in 1990 but he played way over his head.

Tuck has played two great seasons in a row and he has just begun.

by giant fan since 57 on Mar 16, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't underestimate Mendenhall

I voted for Tuck, even though he’s only been around 3 years because he looks to be the star of this bunch. But I gave some consideration to John “the friendly bear” Mendenhall, who played at a very solid level for a long time. Ed’s right, Hoss has a special place in our hearts, but other than that one moment of glory, he didn’t do much.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 16, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mendenhall

was a very good player. Had the misfortune of being stuck on very bad teams.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 16, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Tuck.

Yes, he’s early in his career, but he’s already superior to the few very good players who deserve consideration.

by blue gonz on Mar 16, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with blue

Tuck is young and barring injury, he will be a star for years to come. He will end up with as many rings as Eli.

by njgiant on Mar 16, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Hos

wins for best mustache on a 3rd round pick. easily.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Mar 16, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah

got that right.. His stache still looks good today

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 16, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HOSS

Its gotta be Hoss. How many QB’s can you think of that can come off the bench and play well AND win a Super Bowl? No question, Hoss is the best 3rd Rd draft pick.

by Cody K on Mar 16, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I sse your point. Hoss was a hard luck guy in the sense that, had he come along before Simms,

there was no way Simms would have beaten him out for #1 QB. In fact, the Giants probably wouldn’t have drafted Simms. I took that into consideration when I chose Tuck over Hoss.

by blue gonz on Mar 16, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honorable mention

Pre-1970, but still deserving: Rosey Grier (1955), Sam Huff (1956) and Joe Morrison (1959).

by django48 on Mar 16, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great players

I had to cut this off somewhere, though.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 16, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats interesting..

but that’s the equivalent of the first round of this year’s draft

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 16, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point

but still, to get one of the 5 best linebackers in NFL History in the 3rd round is impressive, no matter how few teams there are.

by cjmulrain on Mar 16, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know you did.

But picking 3 third round players of this caliber in 5 years has to be some kind of record.

by django48 on Mar 16, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was in the

Glory Days. I don’t know who had the final say, but Lombardi and Landry must have had lots of influence.

by blue gonz on Mar 16, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gotta go with Tuck

he’s my favorite player on the roster. I didn’t want to vote for him and be the typical young voter who only votes for recent guys, but he’s already done as much or more as a Giant than any of the others, and barring catastrophe is gonna keep producing at a high level for years to come.

by cjmulrain on Mar 16, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

thanks for the shoutout Ed

but even i had to vote for Tuck.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Mar 17, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, man

I can’t believe you didn’t vote for Baker, just on principle. A traitor to your own screen name. Ahh, I’m losing respect. LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Mar 17, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will's shutdown?

Two statements I think are a little off in that post.
1) The Will’s were not shutdown corners, and especially not for years, it wasn’t their injury problems that made the giants let them walk it was their inconsistentcy.
2) Tuck may have been the best defensive player on the defense last year, but arguments can be made that he is not the best defensive end on the team. So to say that no one can argue that he is the best defensive player on the team is wrong.

However, I believe he is the best 3rd pick of all time

by InJerryITrust on Mar 18, 2009 1:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Couple things

The Will’s were not shutdown corners. I was trying to say that is what the Giants thought they were going t be, but it didn’t work out.
As for Tuck, I assume your argument is that Osi is better. I have said consistently for 2 years that I believe Tuck is a better, more consistent player. I’ll stick to that.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 18, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll have to agree

If Tuck isn’t the best DE/defensive player on the Giants, then who is? I can’t go with Osi on this one. Osi’s a great player but Tuck is more consistent and much of Osi’s lure came from that 6 sack game against Philly. Let’s see how the two stack up when they are on the field together this year.

by njgiant on Mar 18, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs