Ranking the 10 greatest Giants of the past decade

The New York Giants' 60-102-1 record over the past 10 seasons is among the NFL’s worst. Too bad they didn’t have more players like these, the top-10 Giants of an otherwise forgettable decade. 

10. Damon Harrison (DT)

After four years with the Jets, Harrison switched locker rooms to earn All-Pro honors in 2016, his first year as a Giant. “Snacks” had 162 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in 39 games before being traded to the Lions for a fifth-round pick midway through the 2018 season.

9. Evan Engram (TE)

Engram averaged 10.8 yards per catch for 2,828 yards and 16 touchdowns in five years with New York. He led the team with six touchdowns as a rookie in 2017 and made his first Pro Bowl in 2020. Engram finished 2023 with career-highs in receptions (114) and yards (963), but unfortunately, they all came with Jacksonville.

8. Andrew Thomas (LT)

Hamstring and knee injuries limited Thomas to 10 games in 2023, but when healthy, Thomas is still considered one of the best tackles in football. The fourth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 while helping the team end a five-year playoff drought.

7. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB) 

DRC joined the Giants in 2014 after six seasons with the Cardinals, Eagles and Broncos. He led New York with six picks in 2016 and had 11 interceptions in four years with the team. He earned his second Pro Bowl nomination in 2015 but was suspended for violating team rules in 2017. 

6. Dexter Lawrence (DL)

“Sexy Dexy” has 148 solo tackles, 21 sacks and four forced fumbles with three games missed in five NFL seasons. Still just 26-years-old, Lawrence is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons and is considered the league’s best defensive tackle by Pro Football Focus.

5. Saquon Barkley (RB)

Barkley was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year with 2,028 all-purpose yards in 2016. He made two Pro Bowls in six NFL seasons but also missed 25 games with injury. Now an Eagle, the 27-year-old leaves New York with 5,211 rushing yards, 2,100 receiving yards, and 47 scores.

4. Landon Collins (S) 

Collins led the team in tackles for four-straight years earning three Pro Bowl and one All-Pro nomination before signing with Washington in 2018. Plagued by injuries in 2022, the Giants brought him back to play linebacker, and he’d have 15 tackles and a touchdown in six games played.

3. Jason Pierre-Paul (DE)

JPP’s 58.5 career sacks are seventh-most in franchise history with 29 coming from 2014-2017. The three-time Pro Bowler would’ve had even more had a fireworks accident not cost him eight games and part of his right hand in 2015. Still, his 1.89 sacks per game with the team are more than franchise leaders Michael Strahan (1.52) and Lawrence Taylor (1.38).

2. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)

Gotham’s last great receiver led the NFL with 108.8 yards per game as a rookie in 2014. He finished his Giants career with three Pro Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl championship and a number of spectacular catches. He’ll look to add to his career totals with the Dolphins next year, but his 5,476 yards remain second-most in Giants history.

1. Eli Manning (QB)

Take away the 35,345 yards Manning had prior to 2014 and he’d still finish as New York’s second-leading passer behind Phil Simms (33,462). While nowhere near the quarterback who won Super Bowl MVP in 2008 and 2012, four of Manning's seven 4,000 yard seasons came in the twilight of his career.