New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen held his pre-draft press conference on Wednesday and appeared to be much more organized and confident than in his first two seasons on the job.
Schoen holds the third overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft and knows he’s in the driver’s seat. He’s going to get a stud that just might turn his flagging franchise around.
One player who could be on the board when the Giants are on the clock is Travis Hunter, the two-way, electrifying Heisman Trophy winner out of Colorado.
Hunter can transform the Giants in all three phases of the game and Schoen, should he land Hunter, appears to be ready to let the young man, whom he called “a unique individual,” play both ways.
“He’s motivated to play both ways,” Schoen said and added that, “I wouldn’t doubt the kid.”
Schoen also said he has concerns about a player playing on both sides of the ball due to the physical demand it puts on them, among other issues (i.e., learning both playbooks).
“Travis is a unique individual. (Brian Daboll) said it at the owners’ meetings. You’ve got to watch a lot of plays on him. He’s fun to watch. It’s unique, the ball skills, the route ability, and also the ability to go to the other side and play corner. You don’t see that very often,” he said.
“A lot of times, if these guys can’t catch or can’t play receiver, then they get moved to DB. This guy can do it all. Also, he’s a great kid. It would be hard to keep him off the field. He’s motivated to play both ways.
“Again, you’re always worried about the length of the season, with the NFL 17 games, and training camp. If he gets hurt doing something that he’s not doing full-time, you’re going to kick yourself. But he’s a unique athlete that I think will be able to do both.”
Schoen also must be aware of Hunter’s recent comments to all teams wishing to draft him.
Travis Hunter says he’s “NEVER playing football again” if he can’t play WR & CB in the NFL 😳
“It’s never playing football again. … Because I’ve been doing it my whole life… I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball”
(via Garrett Podell, CBS Sports)
More here:… pic.twitter.com/cyOxmds0j3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 15, 2025
ESPN’s Ryan Clark also reminded everyone that not playing Hunter on both sides of the ball devalues him.
“If you don’t play Travis Hunter on both sides of the football, you don’t need to draft Travis Hunter in the top three.”
—@Realrclark25 on Travis Hunter pic.twitter.com/vnYhxUEGr8
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 15, 2025
Although Schoen said that he “likes his secondary right now,” there’s no way the Giants sit Hunter on defense. He also noted that the team has three excellent wide receivers (Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton,) but he knows that Hunter can only add to that mix.
“So our situation will be unique,” Schoen added. “I would not be afraid to play him on both sides of the ball.”
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants open to playing Travis Hunter at wide receiver and cornerback
New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen held his pre-draft press conference on Wednesday and appeared to be much more organized and confident than in his first two seasons on the job.
Schoen holds the third overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft and knows he’s in the driver’s seat. He’s going to get a stud that just might turn his flagging franchise around.
One player who could be on the board when the Giants are on the clock is Travis Hunter, the two-way, electrifying Heisman Trophy winner out of Colorado.
Hunter can transform the Giants in all three phases of the game and Schoen, should he land Hunter, appears to be ready to let the young man, whom he called “a unique individual,” play both ways.
“He’s motivated to play both ways,” Schoen said and added that, “I wouldn’t doubt the kid.”
Schoen also said he has concerns about a player playing on both sides of the ball due to the physical demand it puts on them, among other issues (i.e., learning both playbooks).
“Travis is a unique individual. (Brian Daboll) said it at the owners’ meetings. You’ve got to watch a lot of plays on him. He’s fun to watch. It’s unique, the ball skills, the route ability, and also the ability to go to the other side and play corner. You don’t see that very often,” he said.
“A lot of times, if these guys can’t catch or can’t play receiver, then they get moved to DB. This guy can do it all. Also, he’s a great kid. It would be hard to keep him off the field. He’s motivated to play both ways.
“Again, you’re always worried about the length of the season, with the NFL 17 games, and training camp. If he gets hurt doing something that he’s not doing full-time, you’re going to kick yourself. But he’s a unique athlete that I think will be able to do both.”
Schoen also must be aware of Hunter’s recent comments to all teams wishing to draft him.
Travis Hunter says he’s “NEVER playing football again” if he can’t play WR & CB in the NFL 😳
“It’s never playing football again. … Because I’ve been doing it my whole life… I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball”
(via Garrett Podell, CBS Sports)
More here:… pic.twitter.com/cyOxmds0j3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 15, 2025
ESPN’s Ryan Clark also reminded everyone that not playing Hunter on both sides of the ball devalues him.
“If you don’t play Travis Hunter on both sides of the football, you don’t need to draft Travis Hunter in the top three.”
—@Realrclark25 on Travis Hunter pic.twitter.com/vnYhxUEGr8
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 15, 2025
Although Schoen said that he “likes his secondary right now,” there’s no way the Giants sit Hunter on defense. He also noted that the team has three excellent wide receivers (Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton,) but he knows that Hunter can only add to that mix.
“So our situation will be unique,” Schoen added. “I would not be afraid to play him on both sides of the ball.”
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants open to playing Travis Hunter at wide receiver and cornerback
