Travis Hunter is one-of-one. A true unicorn. The rare player who could line up on either side of the ball—offense, defense, it doesn’t matter—and still be the best athlete on the field.
For a New York Giants team in desperate need of explosiveness on both ends, Hunter is the kind of player who could instantly reshape the franchise’s identity.
Hunter’s been linked to Cleveland at No. 2 for months. Browns General Manager Andrew Berry even likened him to MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani. But the pre-draft buzz has started to shift. While the Giants have been weighing Hunter, Abdul Carter, and Shedeur Sanders at No. 3, there’s now an even bigger chance Hunter won’t make it that far down the board—and it might not be Cleveland who takes him.
Now the G-Men find themselves waiting. And while they’ve done extensive homework on Hunter, including public endorsements of his two-way potential, the power to select him may be taken out of their hands for an entirely different reason. It’s the kind of uncertainty that comes with picking third, not first.
Jaguars trying to crash the top of the draft for Travis Hunter
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the Jacksonville Jaguars are the team to watch if the Browns are willing to move the No. 2 pick.
“I think, but don’t know, that Travis Hunter is probably the best guess to go there (No. 2). Right now it’s the Browns. I would say likely, probably Browns … But there’s some interest. I talked last night on the Insiders about the Jaguars preparing a bold move and I really wonder, like, are they a team that tries to come up?”
The Jaguars currently hold the fifth pick, but multiple reports suggest they’re exploring a move up—specifically for Hunter. Rapoport described Jacksonville’s front office as “not going to be timid,” hinting at a potential “godfather offer” coming Cleveland’s way.
If that happens, the Giants' chances at Hunter will vanish faster than Houdini.
That doesn’t change the fact that Joe Schoen has done his homework on the Colorado phenom. He’s acknowledged Hunter’s desire to play both ways and said publicly, “We would not be afraid to play him on both sides of the ball.” New York’s need at cornerback is arguably more pressing than wide receiver, but Hunter solves both—and immediately.
Still, this is the danger of picking at No. 3. The top two teams hold all the leverage. If the Jaguars pull off the jump and grab Hunter, the Giants will be left presumably choosing between Carter and Sanders. Both are exciting, but neither changes the game the way Hunter could.
If you were hoping for Travis Hunter in Giants blue, you might want to start hoping the Browns stay put. Or else Jacksonville’s boldness might just snatch the draft’s most dynamic player before New York even gets on the clock.