The New York Giants — and our esteemed editor Ed Valentine — are at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, for John Harbaugh’s first training camp as head football coach of the Giants. Mike Renner wrote a detailed article ranking and evaluating 191 first-round selections since 2020.
Rather than simply ranking the best players drafted in the first round from 2020-2025, Mike Renner of CBS Sports evaluated each decision from the team’s point of view and the draft slot the player was
selected. It’s not just Renner ranking the players, but also the value of the pick itself. The 2026 draft was not included, but the 2020-2025 classes are, and Renner breaks down his ranking in thirds.
Renner used three tiers to organize the 191 first-round selections. He then shifted to a team-by-team audit, explaining which franchises consistently made good decisions, which repeatedly missed, and what trends define each front office’s drafting philosophy.
Here are all the picks that the New York Giants made in the first round since 2020:
Of the eight first-round picks that the Giants selected since 2020, Renner had four in the top third and four in the bottom third. Renner had this to say about the Giants’ assessment:
There’s been no in-between for the Giants this decade. They’ve either nabbed franchise cornerstones or had complete whiffs. Now they just need those cornerstones to stay healthy. Jaxson Dart, Andrew Thomas and Malik Nabers have had their careers marred by injuries to date. If all are healthy this season, the Giants should finally make the leap to playoff contention.
It’s difficult to disagree with the assessment. The four top-third selections came in Renner’s top 51 first-round picks of this exercise, with Jaxson Dart (pick 25) being the only one selected at a value (outside the top six). Carter, Dart, Thomas, and Nabers are all cornerstone players for the Giants.
Three of the four players in the top third of Renner’s list for the Giants were selected by Joe Schoen, albeit the only players that weren’t were Andrew Thomas and Kadarius Toney. Both of Schoen’s first three picks in the first-round feel into the bottom third category.
Thibodeaux is ranked 131st out of 191, but it’s not necessarily because he’s a bust. Although Kayvon Thibodeaux has earned 151 pressures across four NFL seasons, injuries have limited his availability and prevented him from fully living up to the expectations that come with being a top-five draft pick. He’s developed into a solid and productive edge rusher, but the 25-year-old must stay healthy to live up to his pedigree.
Kadarius Toney was an insanely bad bust, and I’m surprised he’s only at 155, but the Giants — at least — traded back when they selected Toney. The Giants traded up for Banks, though, and he’s been a bust to date, although training camp reports are suggesting that he’s finding a groove with new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Toney was ranked at 155, while Banks was at 161, but the latter can still return value on the pick.
Evan Neal, somehow, can also return some value, although it’s unlikely. Neal was re-signed by the new regime but is no lock to make the roster. He is rightfully ranked at 185 out of 191 with former Giant Isaiah Simmons, tackle Isaiah Wilson, CB Jeff Okudah, and quarterbacks Anthony Richardson, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance rounding out the poor end of Renner’s list.
The top of the list
Three players in the NFC East cracked the top ten of Renner’s list. Jayden Daniels ranked at number seven for the Commanders, with Micah Parsons, who is now a Green Bay Packer, coming in at eight. CeeDee Lamb was ranked tenth by Renner, as an excellent value in the middle of the first round (17th pick in 2020).
Joe Burrow was the number one-ranked player, as the first-overall pick in the 2020 draft, with Drake Maye as the number two (third selection in 2024). Justin Jefferson was the first non-quarterback at No. 3; he was selected at pick 22 by the Minnesota Vikings, with Jaxson Smith-Njigba at No. 4, as the 20th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jordan Love rounded out the top five, as the 26th pick in 2020; finding a starting quarterback in the twenties was of high importance to this list, for obvious reasons.
Abdul Carter is the first Giant on the list (38th), with just one year under his belt. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and center Tyler Linderbaum are ranked just ahead of Carter, with offensive tackle Charles Cross splitting Carter and Dart. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith was ranked at 41, just behind Dart, and Andrew Thomas was ranked 42nd.
Final thoughts
Renner is right. The Giants have either hit or busted on their first-round picks since 2020, with Kayvon Thibodeaux as an exception. Thibodeaux is not a bust, but he has yet to live up to the fifth-overall pick, despite solid play throughout his career. A year of health on his fifth-year option could dispel the bust narrative. His high draft capital more than likely pushed him to Renner’s ranking at 131 in the bottom third; he’s the third name in the bottom third, just behind offensive tackle Mekhi Becton and wide receiver Quentin Johnston, both of whom were selected outside the top ten. Still, the young edge defender must stay healthy
The exercise was a fun thought experiment that analyzes the first round in a specific manner. Joe Schoen has done a better job finding quality contributors in the first round as the years have progressed, although the team’s struggles have led to multiple top-ten picks. Five of the eight selections were in the top ten. Schoen received two top-ten picks again, and both appear to be on the right track earning a spot outside of the bottom third. Both linebacker Arvell Reese and guard Francis Mauigoa must still prove their worth on the field — hopefully, for Schoen and all of our’s sake, they find themselves in the top-third next go around.
