Pittsburgh moved from No. 32 to No. 25 in the 2006 first…
Pittsburgh moved from No. 32 to No. 25 in the 2006 first round and selected Santonio Holmes, sending the Giants No. 32 plus picks 96 and 129. Holmes became a productive Steelers receiver and the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII. New York still converted the return into Mathias Kiwanuka, Gerris Wilkinson and Guy Whimper, giving the Giants useful depth and a long-term defensive contributor.
New York Giants Received
- pick 2006 1st round pick (32nd overall, Mathias Kiwanuka ), 2006 3rd round pick (96th overall, Gerris Wilkinson ) and 2006 4th round pick (129th overall, Guy Whimper )
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 2006 1st round pick (25th overall, Santonio Holmes )
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Pittsburgh wanted to move up from the final pick of the first round for Santonio Holmes, one of the draft's top receivers. New York was willing to move down seven places because the Steelers added third- and fourth-round selections. The structure gave Pittsburgh access to its preferred player while giving the Giants three chances to turn one first-round slot into roster value.
What Pittsburgh Received
Holmes became an immediate part of Pittsburgh's passing game and spent four seasons with the Steelers. His defining contribution came in Super Bowl XLIII, when he caught the winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining and earned the game's MVP award. That moment helped deliver a championship and gave Pittsburgh a peak outcome that substantially exceeded the usual return from moving up seven spots late in the first round.
What New York Received
The Giants selected defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka at No. 32, linebacker Gerris Wilkinson at No. 96 and offensive lineman Guy Whimper at No. 129. Kiwanuka was the clear centerpiece. He played 120 games with 82 starts over nine Giants seasons and finished with 38.5 sacks. He was also part of the franchise's Super Bowl XLII and XLVI championship teams. Wilkinson and Whimper supplied additional roster value, making the return far from a miss.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
New York's ability to turn the extra choices into a long-tenured defender keeps this from being a lopsided decision. Pittsburgh, however, acquired the exact player it targeted and received a championship-defining performance from him. Holmes' Super Bowl MVP provides the decisive edge.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh Steelers Win. Pittsburgh earns a B+ and New York a B. Both teams converted the deal into meaningful football value, but Holmes' impact on a Super Bowl victory gives the Steelers the stronger result.