Giants Wire
The New York Giants are in the market for not just a starting quarterback this offseason, but a viable backup, as well.
They have over $50 million to spend in free agency, which begins in just over two weeks, and the third overall pick in the draft as ammunition to solve one – or both – of those issues.
In his pre-combine mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. doesn’t see the Giants selecting a quarterback with that No. 3 overall pick.
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Let’s start with the QB question, since I’m sure Giants fans would raise their eyebrows at seeing New York pass on Sanders. First, there are mixed feelings on him around the league, and he isn’t seen as a surefire top-five pick. The front office and coaching staff have to win right now, and banking their futures on the class’ QB2 might not get it done. Second, I’m not ready to close the door on the Giants bypassing this lackluster QB class in favor of a veteran option. Could New York trade for Matthew Stafford? Would signing Sam Darnold fix the issue? There are options here, and if the Giants go another route, they can instead use this pick to address one of many other needs. Or, in Hunter’s case, maybe two of them.
Hunter is my top-ranked prospect in the class, and though I currently see him as a receiver in the pros, he could also play cornerback for New York. He can make a massive impact on either side of the ball, and he’ll likely see at least some time on both sides. Perhaps the Giants take his ball skills and quickness and drop him at receiver opposite Malik Nabers to form a solid supporting cast around whomever is under center. Perhaps they look at his elite instincts and finally land a true CB1. Either way, this pick would be clutch for a struggling Giants team.
Kiper hit the nail on the head when he labeled this year’s quarterback class as “lackluster.” None of the players are deserving of such a high pick. Teams in need of quarterbacks, such as the Giants, usually overdraft quarterbacks in the first round and live to regret it.
Such picks are “regime killers” and Giants general manager Joe Schoen cannot afford to squander the No. 3 pick on a quarterback that could be a bust.
The Giants are 9-25 over the past two seasons and Schoen needs to be smart and take the best players in front of him in the draft and fill in the other needs via free agency and trades.
Hunter is a no-brainer if he is still on the board. Schoen and the Giants won’t hesitate to grab one of the few generational talents in this year’s draft class.
