The New York Giants are slated to pick No. 3 overall in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. With the Giants on the search for their next franchise quarterback, the path to drafting one with the third-overall pick is not clear. As a result, New York could pivot to taking the best player available instead.
The Giants might miss out on a quarterback at the top of the NFL Draft
Picking ahead of the G-Men are the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 and the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 — two quarterback-needy teams. There are currently two projected first-round quarterbacks in this year’s draft class — Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. If those two prospects come off the board with the first two selections, New York will need to pivot in a new direction.
Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter might be the best player in the draft
If quarterbacks go off the board with the first two picks, the Giants could pivot to the “best player available” strategy. This would put them in a position to draft the best prospect in the entire draft class — Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter.
Hunter was the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner following a spectacular final season at the collegiate level. He is widely considered to be the best prospect regardless of position in the upcoming 2025 draft class. Despite this, he likely won’t go first overall as the teams at the top seek a franchise quarterback in the first round.
Making Hunter an even more intriguing selection for the Giants is his versatility. Hunter won the Heisman this year in large part due to his ability to play on both sides of the ball. He was an elite shutdown cornerback while simultaneously being a 1,000-yard receiver on the other side of the ball. His rare athleticism and ball skills give him an unlimited ceiling and a high floor to succeed at one of two positions in the NFL.
As a wide receiver, Hunter totaled 1,258 receiving yards with a Big 12-leading 96 receptions and 15 touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, he racked up a combined 36 tackles with 11 pass defenses and four interceptions. Hunter is the first player in college football history to win both the Chuck Bednarik (Defensive Player of the Year in college football) and the Fred Biletnikoff Awards (Wide Receiver of the Year in college football).
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Hunter could fill two major needs for the Giants
Cornerback is a major need for the Giants — but so is wide receiver. Hunter could start on either side of the ball (or both) in year one for New York. He could be a deadly weapon opposite Malik Nabers in the offensive lineup or the defense’s primary starting cornerback.
Settling for the best player available after missing out on the quarterback isn’t a bad strategy for Big Blue — especially when such a rare prospect like Hunter is available for the taking at No. 3 overall. Hunter has elite potential and could be a slam-dunk draft pick for the G-Men. However, the quarterback position must be addressed one way or another.
