At last, we have arrived at the top four picks for the best draft picks in New York sports over the last 50 years.
Three different sports are represented in the top four, with number one going to one of the greatest New York athletes of all time.
Read more about our top four below, and thanks for following along on Evan and Tiki over the last two weeks as we compiled this illustrious list:
4: Eli Manning, 1st round, 2004
Yes, Manning was technically taken by the Chargers with the No. 1 overall pick, but it was an orchestrated move as part of a deal with the Giants to send Phillip Rivers to San Diego as one of the biggest draft moves in league history at the time. It was a move that certainly worked out for New York, as Manning became a hero on the big stage, completing two of the unlikeliest and biggest passes in franchise history (the helmet catch to David Tyree at Super Bowl XLII and the completion to Mario Manningham in the rematch with the Patriots four years later) to topple Tom Brady, twice.
Sure, Manning had his warts (he led the league in interceptions three times), but in New York, it is all about championships, and he remains one of the greatest big-game performers the city has ever seen.
3: Derek Jeter, 1st round, 1992
Everyone knows the story by now: Jeter grew up an avid Yankee fan and was improbably taken by the Yanks with the sixth overall pick after the Astros passed on him, prompting a scout to retire from the industry. The Yankees are forever grateful to Houston for not listening to Hal Newhouser, as they were able to draft their future face of the franchise, and one of the most accomplished players in the history of the most accomplished franchise in sports history. Jeter won five titles, finished with 3,465 hits, and shined in the Yankees’ most important Fall Classic during his tenure by winning World Series MVP after taking down the rival Mets in 2000.
2: Patrick Ewing, 1st round, 1985
Forget about the frozen envelope theories for a second. Ultimately, the Knicks landed Ewing with the No. 1 overall pick to find the centrepiece of what would become the most beloved Knicks teams of a generation, as Ewing was the superstar of a physical, gritty team that became a playoff fixture that would have won a hell of a lot more had it not been for a guy named Michael Jordan.
Despite falling short of the ultimate goal, Ewing is arguably the best Knick in team history, earning 11 All-Star selections, seven All-NBA nods, and an easy Hall of Fame inductee that holds a plethora of Knicks career records.
1: Lawrence Taylor, 1st round, 1981
Our greatest New York draft pick of the last 50 years goes to one of the greatest pass rushers in NFL history in Taylor, who was a second overall pick that became arguably the greatest Giant the franchise has ever known.
The career is simply ridiculous, as it includes two Super Bowl titles, 10 Pro Bowl selections, 142.0 career sacks, and of course, a Hall of Fame induction. Taylor and Brodeur are possibly the only two players on this list to actually change the way the game was played because of their impact, which speaks to the level of Taylor’s skill. By taking arguably the greatest defensive player in NFL history, the Giants’ selection of Taylor beats any other New York team’s draft selection of the last half century.
If you missed any of the reveals on Evan and Tiki, here is the full, now completed list of the top 20 New York draft picks of the last 50 years:
20: Phil Simms
19: Don Mattingly
18: Tiki Barber
17: David Wright
16: Brian Leetch
15: Clark Gillies
14: Darryl Strawberry
13: Doc Gooden
12: Mike Bossy
11: Bryan Trottier
10: Henrik Lundquist
9: Martin Brodeur
8: Roger Clemens
7: Michael Strahan
6: Joe Klecko
5: Darrel Revis
4: Eli Manning
3: Derek Jeter
2: Patrick Ewing
1: Lawrence Taylor