Syracuse Football: Ranking every SU first round pick in NFL Draft history

• 19th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
• Played for Syracuse from 2009 through 2012.

Justin Pugh holds the honorary distinction of being the last Syracuse football player drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. It’s fair to say that the dome dudes have been in a bit of a slump lately as it pertains to the NFL Draft factory.

Although with Pugh, the Orange have nothing to be ashamed about. He was a top-20 draft pick and was supposed to protect Eli Manning’s blindside. But because of a rash of injuries, we were forced to see Pugh’s versatility with Big Blue at the next level over the last several years.

Pugh has played every position outside of center for the Giants and played so well that he just got paid by the Arizona Cardinals. But it all started back in the good ole Big East days at Syracuse. Pugh paid his dues and earned all conference honors in every season he was with the Orange.

As time passes Pugh has an opportunity to work his way even higher on this list, but as it stands he’s the 20th best first round draft pick in SU history. That’s no slight, it just speaks to the incredible history this program has had over the years.