The New York Giants have had plenty of the game's best defensive players come in and out of the franchise's history, from Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks to Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck and now Dexter Lawrence II, but why not continue to add to that list?
The G-Men will have the opportunity to add a defensive specialist next week at the NFL Draft. They currently occupy the third overall pick and will likely have the choice between Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.
After finishing 3-14 during the 2024 campaign, the Giants still have plenty of positional needs to address. Two that make the most sense for Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter in New York are edge rusher and cornerback.
While Carter would be a great addition to New York’s already talented defensive line next to Lawrence and Brian Burns, most Giants fans would love to see the team draft Hunter. He played both defensive back and wide receiver at an exceptional level at Colorado, earning the Heisman Trophy this year. He’d make an impact on both sides of the field for the Giants next season.
Not only would Big Blue fans welcome this generational two-way player to East Rutherford with open arms, but I'm sure some Giants alumni would be thrilled to see the team add a player of Hunter's caliber at the draft.
Michael Strahan thinks the Giants should draft Travis Hunter as a WR
Giants legend Strahan recently joined the conversation, discussing Hunter's skills as a wide receiver and cornerback on the 7 PM in Brooklyn Podcast.
Strahan stated that he would allow Hunter to play both sides of the ball, but not always. He added that Hunter has a greater impact as a wide receiver. This is interesting as it was previously reported that Hunter's best fit at the professional level will be as a full-time cornerback.
While Hunter is a shutdown cornerback, Strahan proposes pairing his energy with Malik Nabers on offense and how dangerous that duo could be, making it very challenging for opposing secondaries to defend next season.
In his rookie season last season, Nabers had 109 receptions on 170 targets, 1,204 yards, and seven touchdowns. He also set the franchise record for most single-season receptions, previously held by Steve Smith, and earned Pro Bowl honors at the end of the year.
Hunter, on the other hand, as a wideout had 96 receptions, 1,258 yards, and 15 touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per catch. Despite Colorado's 36-14 loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl, Hunter impressed with four receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Just think about the endless possibilities Nabers and Hunter could have next season in the Giants' passing game. If Joe Schoen had any doubts about drafting this generational two-way player and using him at wide receiver, he no longer has to after this stamp of approval from No. 92.