The 7 Highest-Drafted Ole Miss Football Players Since the 2000 NFL Draft

1. Eli Manning, QB - Pick 1 in the 2004 NFL Draft

The highest pick for an Ole Miss player was Eli Manning in 2004, drafted number 1 overall by the San Diego Chargers, now the Los Angeles Chargers. However, there was a twist to the tail after Eli was selected. 

With San Diego holding the first overall pick, it looked confident they would select Eli. However, after hearing about the program, his father, Archie, spoke out about his son refusing to play for the Chargers if they selected Eli. The draft unfolded with the Chargers picking Eli. However, they later traded Eli to the New York Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers on top of other picks.

During his time with the Giants, Eli won two Super Bowls in 2007 and 2011, winning MVP on both occasions. During the 2011 season, Eli had 1,219 passing yards in the postseason, a record that still stands as of April 24 2024.

Eli holds numerous New York Giants franchise records, including the most career pass completions (4,895) and passing yards (57,023). He also has the franchise record for passing touchdowns (366) and the most consecutive starts as a quarterback (222), ranking him third in the NFL records.

On September 26, 2021, Eli was inducted into the Giants' Ring of Honor, and his number 10 jersey was also retired. He will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.