Joe Schoen exposes Travis Hunter enthusiasm with Giant spotlight on

The headline if the Giants land the ruling Heisman Prize winner next Thursday night will be that Joe Schoen passed on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Perhaps that’s why the Giants GM shared a lot interest for Travis Hunter’s two-way capability and possible fit on New york city’s roster Wednesday: he desires fans to get delighted about Hunter’s prospective immediate effect on both offense and defense missing a franchise QB on the lineup.

“If there is a blue chip or generational type skill or something you simply can’t pass on, even if you maybe currently have beginners at that position, you don’t hand down that kind of player,” Schoen said at Wednesday’s pre-draft interview in East Rutherford, N.J.

“Travis is an unique person,” the GM added later on. “He’s enjoyable to watch. It’s unique: the ball abilities, the path ability and likewise the ability to go to the other side and play corner. You don’t see that extremely typically.”

The 6-foot, 188-pound Hunter starred at both receiver and corner at Colorado. He played more than 1,000 snaps in back-to-back seasons. In 2024, he caught 96 passes for 1,258 backyards and 15 TDs on offense. And he made 4 interceptions with 16 passes safeguarded and 35 deals with on defense.

In 2015, Schoen passed on three first-round quarterbacks to choose LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. The Giants promptly went 3-14 in Nabers’ novice season. Stacking the very best player offered on the board every year theoretically, could develop a much better foundation over the long run.

Hunter could be a transcendent Giants player– if he gets to them at No. 3. Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry, who holds the No. 2 general choice, compared the special Hunter to Los Angeles Dodgers two-way baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani.

“It’s a little bit like Ohtani where when he’s playing one side, he’s an exceptional player,” Berry told reporters Thursday. “If he’s a pitcher [or] he’s a hitter, he’s an exceptional player. You clearly get a unicorn if you use him both methods.”

Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is viewed by numerous NFL critics as the agreement top possibility in the draft class, however. It would be a little a surprise if the Browns passed on him. That might drop Hunter straight into the Giants’ laps.

So how would Schoen use Hunter in New York? The GM stated he ‘d be comfortable letting him play both sides of the ball.

“I would not be afraid to play him on both sides of the ball,” Schoen said. “I think it would be challenging, but he’s shown that he can do it and be readily available … This guy can do everything. Likewise, he’s an excellent kid. It would be difficult to keep him off the field. He’s motivated to play both methods.”

The Giants GM may be stating that out of need in the meantime, nevertheless. Hunter recently informed CBS Sports that he would rather not play football at all if he were not allowed to play both offense and defense in the pros.

So whatever team picks him will not wish to pigeon-hole him into one role in the meantime, at least.

“It’s never playing football once again,” Hunter said last week. “Due to the fact that I’ve been doing it my entire life, and I love being on the football field. I seem like I could control on each side of the ball, so I truly take pleasure in doing it.”

Schoen also not surprisingly seemed like he did have some bookings about Hunter dealing with a complete workload on both sides of the ball.

“You’re constantly worried about the length of the season, with the NFL [having] 17 games and training camp,” the GM said. “If he gets harmed doing something that he’s refraining from doing full-time, you’re going to kick yourself. However he’s a special professional athlete that I believe will be able to do both.”

Schoen specified he would be more worried about Hunter’s brainpower to handle his offensive and defensive responsibilities instead of any physical risk.

“To me, what will have to be settled is the mental part of it, because the offense is very tough to find out,” Schoen said of Brian Daboll’s scheme. “And then the defense on a weekly basis, it’s not college anymore where, hi, these are our basic plays, this is our basic defense. We’re going to play cover 3 versus Kansas. We’re going to play cover 3 versus Nebraska. There’s a lot more week-to-week matchup type stuff that our coaches are doing.

“Just just how much can you deal with mentally where you can go out there and execute and they can trust you to do your job?” he asked rhetorically. “Physically, I would not question the kid.”

This is a similar point that numerous coaches and scouts have actually raised about why they ‘d prefer Hunter play full-time corner and be a part-time receiver: protective playbooks and modifications week-to-week and in-game require full attention to master on game days.

In general, it would be easier to give Hunter some offensive bundles to release his athleticism with limited preparation compared to what it requires reliable on defense week-to-week.

Schoen’s input that Daboll’s offense is tough to learn, too, apparently could complicate Hunter’s capability to both full-time in New york city.

Daboll said at the NFL owners fulfilling that “I think he’s a great player both methods,” though, and called Hunter a “heck of a player.”

“It’s actually exceptional what he has done and the capability to perform at that level, not really getting a rest,” he stated. “He’s been an enjoyable player to assess and to satisfy and talk with.”

Not everybody in the NFL believes Hunter is a transcendent talent. While some scouts see him as a crowning achievement possibility, there are others who do not see him as a shutdown corner or a specific No. 1 or 2 wide receiver.

Scouts like Hunter’s athleticism and adaptability to play both guy and zone or inside and outside at corner on defense. So possibly he’s a beneficial chess piece who can be used strategically on offense in bundles developed to release him however keep his snaps reasonable at the exact same time.

Or maybe Hunter will be an immediate game-changer and those scouts are wrong. Possibly Nabers and Hunter might end up being a headache pairing for NFC defenses to face the next five seasons plus.

“I would not doubt the kid,” Schoen stated. “He’s that type of professional athlete, and he’s had that kind of production. It’s crazy the quantity of snaps he played, the amount of snaps he plays a game. Doesn’t take a seat. Reviews and gets a beverage of water and returns out on the field.

“He’s got that type of athleticism,” the GM stated. “He’s got the best mindset. He’s a fantastic kid. I wouldn’t question him.”