Undrafted from BYU, Bart Oates found a home in the USFL where he played in all three of their seasons, all with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars. Oates won two the two championships there and established himself as a player that should have been selected in the NFL all along. The Giants rectified that when he signed with them in 1985.
Beginning his career in 1948 with the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference, Y.A. Tittle played for the San Francisco 49ers throughout the 1950s, where he was a UPI MVP in 1957 and a four-time Pro Bowler. The Quarterback was traded straight up to the New York Giants for second-year Lineman, Lou Cordileone. Both players were offended that they were traded for the other. Only one of them was right.
Fran Tarkenton began his pro career with the Minnesota Vikings in 1961, but the Vikes did not have a lot of talent around him. The scrambling Quarterback was a star and was a Pro Bowl Selection in 1964 and 1965, but he grew frustrated and demanded a trade. That wish was granted after the 1966 season, when the Giants, hungry for a top Quarterback, traded four high Draft Picks for Tarkenton.
Brad Van Pelt was a two-time All-American at Michigan State, thus bringing a successful resume to the New York Giants who drafted him in the Second Round in 1973.