Giants Country

New York Giants Draft History with Sixth Overall Pick

The Giants' luck with the sixth overall pick in the draft hasn't been great, but that doesn't mean there aren't cornerstone pieces to be had at that spot.

Patricia Traina

New York Giants Draft History with Sixth Overall Pick
New York Giants Draft History with Sixth Overall Pick /
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With the New York Giants set to pick sixth in this year's NFL Draft, we decided to take a look back at the team's history to see what they have done when holding that slot in the draft order, as well as view what the last ten drafts have produced at that spot.

The Giants have drafted just four times at No. 6, including three years in a row from 1946-1948, in which they took fullback Steve Filipowicz (1946), halfback George Franck (1947), and halfback Billy Hillenbrand (1948). Of those, Filipowicz and Hillenbrand appeared in games as starters.

Their most recent selection at No. 6 overall came in 2019 when they plucked quarterback Daniel Jones out of Duke. Jones has been the most significant contributor of all the team's picks, selected sixth overall, having been named a starter two games into his rookie campaign.

The irony, as it stands today, is that Jones, the team's current starting quarterback and most recent sixth-round pick, could end up being replaced by another quarterback chosen in the sixth round if the team stays in that slot.

General manager Joe Schoen hasn't tipped his hand as to his thinking regarding the process. However, he did acknowledge that the team will have to do something at quarterback, considering Jones is coming off an injury, and Tyrod Taylor is set to be an unrestricted free agent.

Some believe Schoen might even consider trading up to get the quarterback he wants. To do that, he'd likely have to move up to the first overall slot in the draft, currently owned by the Chicago Bears, if he believes that the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots are leaning toward taking a quarterback with their respective first-round picks.

That wouldn't be the first time the Giants made a move to secure the first-overall pick in the draft. In 2004, they famously traded quarterback Phillip Rivers, whom they selected with the fourth overall pick in that draft, and a handful of premium picks from both their 2004 and 2005 draft stock to the San Diego Chargers to secure the rights to quarterback Eli Manning, whom the Chargers had drafted first overall.

The blockbuster trade worked out well for both teams, but more so for the Giants, who, with Manning at the helm, went on to win two Super Bowl championships.

If the Giants decide not to select a quarterback in the first round and end up sitting in the sixth overall spot, recent history suggests getting a franchise cornerstone at that spot is possible. 

Here's a look at the last ten players taken at No. 6 overall in the draft:

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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