Giants General Manager Confirms Travis Hunter's Versatility for No. 3 Draft Pick
Travis Hunter has expressed his eagerness to play both wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL, and it seems that the New York Giants are open to fulfilling that desire if the Heisman Trophy recipient falls to them at No. 3 in next week's NFL draft.
During his annual pre-draft press conference on Wednesday, New York's general manager Joe Schoen stated that the team would not hesitate to utilize Hunter on both sides of the field.
Schoen added, "I have faith in the kid. He possesses that kind of athleticism. He has shown great productivity, playing a high number of snaps in a game without taking breaks for water and quickly returning to the field."
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"He has that level of athleticism, the right mindset, and he's a fantastic individual. So, I have no doubts about him."
While NFL executives have praised Hunter's potential to excel at either position, he made headlines earlier this week when he declared that he would never play football again if a team prohibited him from playing both wide receiver and cornerback.
Hunter told CBS Sports, "Football has been my passion since I was young, and I love being on the field. I believe I can dominate on both sides of the ball, so I thoroughly enjoy it."
Of course, concerns have been raised about Hunter's workload if he were to play both ways. Last season with the Colorado Buffaloes, Hunter participated in over 84% of the team's snaps. For comparison, according to ESPN, cornerback Dane Jackson played 48% of the Carolina Panthers' total snaps last season, which was the most in the NFL.
Schoen explained, "We are monitoring his workload and yardage each day. The mental aspect will also need to be considered, as learning an offensive and defensive playbook is challenging. In college, it's more straightforward, but in the NFL, our coaches are constantly adjusting our game plan based on our opponent. So, it's crucial that a player can handle the mental demands and execute their role."
It remains to be seen if Hunter will even be available at No. 3. Many experts believe he is a top choice for the Cleveland Browns at No. 2, following the presumed selection of quarterback Cam Ward by the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick. Additionally, the Giants will need to decide if Hunter is a better option than the top quarterbacks available. However, Schoen stated that the team does not feel obligated to choose a quarterback at No. 3, especially after adding Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to the roster alongside Tommy DeVito.
