The New York Giants are just days away from making one of the most pivotal draft decisions in recent franchise history, and all signs point to Colorado’s two-way phenom Travis Hunter being firmly in the mix at No. 3 overall. With the quarterback of the future conundrum still looming and the roster in need of impact playmakers on both sides of the ball, Joe Schoen may be seriously considering the reigning Heisman winner as a do-it-all solution.
Some skeptics question whether Hunter can hold up as a full-time two-way player in the NFL. The Giants can go ahead and toss that doubt out the window. Hunter didn’t just push back on the idea—he issued an ultimatum, saying he’d rather walk away from the game altogether than be told he can’t play both sides.
In a recent interview with Garrett Podell from CBS Sports, the Colorado superstar made it crystal clear that playing both sides of the ball is a requirement:
“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter said. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
That’s infinitely more than some art-of-the-deal negotiation tactic. He's sending warning shots. If the G-Men are serious about using the No. 3 pick on Travis Hunter—and they’ve done plenty of homework to suggest he's very much in consideration—they better be ready to let him do what he does best: everything.
Travis Hunter sends clear message to Giants he wants to play wide receiver and cornerback
Hunter’s timing couldn’t be more perfect. With the draft nearly a week away, Big Blue is still weighing their top options: Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Penn State's Abdul Carter, and Hunter. And while all three would fill glaring needs, none bring the kind of two-way ceiling Hunter does.
The Giants’ offense last season was one of the league’s worst. It surely was the least watchable. They averaged just 16.1 points per game (31st) and couldn’t push the ball downfield. That’s why drafting Hunter is viewed as a no-brainer: Draft Hunter so Russell Wilson can throw darts to him for chunk-yardage plays downfield.
But Hunter could also fix the defense. They lost Adoree' Jackson in free agency, and third-year corner Deonte Banks hasn't lived up to his first-round billing, struggling with missed tackles and lapses in coverage all year.. Hunter led all Power Five corners in passer rating allowed (38.7) and still managed 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns while playing nearly 1,500 snaps. He’s actually elite on both ends. It would be a waste to not utilize him properly.
And he knows it. “They say nobody has ever done it for real the way I do it, but I tell them that I’m just different,” Hunter said during the NFL Combine. “I’m a different person.”
The Giants have a rare opportunity at No. 3. If they want to fix their offense and fortify their secondary with one swing, Hunter might just be the answer. But only if they’re willing to let him be himself. If anyone can dominate on both sides, it's Hunter.