Good teams draft well. Great ones find value.
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Whether it's a first-round pick who goes on to a Hall of Fame career or a late-rounder who plays many years, teams separate from the pack with players who exceed expectations.
With the 2015 NFL Draft approaching, Giants.com looks at those players over the years and counts down the top 10 values in New York Giants draft history.
Today we unveil the first two off the list.
10. RB Ahmad Bradshaw
Draft Class: 2007
Round: 7 (250th overall)
College: Marshall
Ahmad Bradshaw, who joined the Giants as a seventh-round draft choice in 2007 and became one of the franchise's toughest and most productive rushers, was a significant contributor to the teams that won Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. Bradshaw scored the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLVI, famously taking a seat in the end zone with 57 seconds remaining in the victory over the New England Patriots.
In six seasons, Bradshaw climbed to sixth on the Giants career rushing list with 4,232 yards, seventh with 921 rushing attempts and ninth with 32 rushing touchdowns. Bradshaw is also second in Giants postseason history in rushing yards (480) and third in attempts (111). His postseason average of 4.32 yards is a team record.
"Bradshaw was a guy who was the leading rusher in two Giants Super Bowl victories," Giants broadcaster Paul Dottino said. "When he came out of school, he had some foot problems, foot problems that would plague him throughout his entire Giants career. But he was always a gamer on Sunday because when it came time to play, Ahmad Bradshaw was always there, averaged over 4.5 yards per carry as a Giant and had two 1,000-yard seasons."
"He was a terrific seventh-round pick," Giants.com senior writer/editor Michael Eisen added. "And he did score the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLVI. He'll always be famous for that."
Top-10 Giants value draft picks of all-time
9. OL David Diehl
Draft Class: 2003
Round: 5 (160th overall)
College: Illinois
David Diehl, who retired after the 2013 season, is arguably the most accomplished fifth-round draft choice in franchise history. He concluded his career with 164 regular-season games played, tying quarterback Phil Simms for 12th on the team's all-time list.
Diehl started 160 of those 164 games, in addition to all 11 postseason games in which he played. In the regular season, Diehl started 65 games at left tackle, 42 at left guard, 26 at right tackle and 27 at right guard.
"I don't think many fifth-round picks come in and start their first 120 games as David Diehl did," Eisen said. "He only missed 12 games in his 11 years. He played every offensive line position except for center. He was durable, valuable. He was a great guy in the locker room, was a team leader. He was the left tackle on two Super Bowl teams. For a fifth-round pick, he had tremendous value."
Top-10 Giants value draft picks of all-time
