NFL draft: New York Giants' Lawrence Taylor named the best No. 2 pick of all-time
That was the selection of North Carolina linebacker Lawrence Taylor with the second overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft. In a recent ESPN poll of the all-time best picks at each slot in the draft, Taylor was voted the best No. 2 pick in NFL history.
The best defensive player of all time is also the best second overall pick of all time. Taylor is one of two defensive players to ever win league MVP (in 1986, joining defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971), and that rarefied air all but cements him over contenders such as Marshall Faulk, Julius Peppers and Calvin Johnson. Modern contenders such as Von Miller, Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa are excellent in their time but don't hold a candle to L.T., who finished his 13-year career with 142 sacks.
The Giants actually lucked out when the New Orleans Saints selected South Carolina running back George Rogers, the 1980 Heisman Trophy winner, with the first pick. Young quickly hopped on Taylor, and the rest is history.
Also on this list was another adroit selection by Young: Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan, who was taken No. 40 overall in 1993.
The little 8-year-old Eagles fan in me still resents Strahan, who terrorized Donovan McNabb and my beloved Birds for years. I really wanted to pick Thurman Thomas here -- an MVP winner at running back whose number is retired in Buffalo. But Strahan's 22.5-sack season in 2001, his final-season performance in the Giants' magical Super Bowl XLII run ... it's just too tough to argue against.
Several other Giants selections made the list as well. They are as follows:
Umenyiora wasn't consistently dominant, but his peaks made him the pick at No. 56. In the 2007 Super Bowl season, Umenyiora was quieter in the postseason but excellent in the regular season, with 13 sacks and a Pro Bowl. In the 2011 Super Bowl season, he was quieter in the regular season but dominant in the playoffs -- 3.5 sacks over four games. Key roles in big seasons can make the difference in this exercise.
Not a bad list for the Giants, who have, at times, been criticized for their drafting/
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