With the third pick in the 2025 draft, the Giants appear to be increasingly likely to select one of two players: Edge Rush Abdul Carter or cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.
Both are impeccable prospects, but there are at least some “concerns” attached to both of them.
For Carter, it’s his physical health.
He appeared at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in late February, and his medical checkup revealed a stress response to his right leg.
He chose not to participate in the combined drill and had surgery.
The team thought Carter might exercise on March 28th at Pennsylvania State Pro Day, but a prolonged shoulder injury left him off the field.
When Carter played Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl playoff game, injuries were first born on the Great Year Day.
Last Friday, Carter was at the Giants team facility, and medical updates were part of the visit.
“He feels good,” Giants GM Joe Schoen said. “He’s exercising. He’s running. I don’t think there’s much room for pause there.”
For Hunter, the team needs to figure out what they want to do with him, as the winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy is considered to be the top cornerback and top wide receiver in this draft.
He says he is determined to play both ways in the NFL and did it at a high level in Colorado.
How stubborn? He recently told CBS Sports, “I’ll never play football again.”
At the start of the evaluation process, the Giants saw the Hunter as a cornerback who could get snaps at wide receivers.
They didn’t consider him to be two players.
These priorities may have changed to the point that the Giants studied one of the most talented and versatile players to join the draft.
“He’s fun to watch,” Shane said. “It’s unique – it has the ball skill, route abilities, and the ability to go to the other side and play corners. I don’t see it that often. Often, if these guys get caught with receivers or can’t move to DB, this guy can do it all.
With Paulson Adebo added to Deonte Banks, Dru Phillips and Cor’dale Flott, Schoen feels good about his cornerback. With Darius Slayton’s re-signment, Schoen sees Malik Nabers, Wan’dale Robinson and Slayton as strong receiver trioes.
“We’re in a unique position, we have three great receivers and for now I love our secondary,” Shane said. “So our situation will be unique. I’m not afraid to play [Hunter] Both sides of the ball. ”
The physical demands of playing more than 100 snaps in a game are enormous.
Shane is aware of that, but sounds more wary about how Hunter can learn to excel at cornerbacks and wide receivers at the next level.
“For me, what you have to solve is the mental part of that, because attacks are very difficult to learn,” Shane said. “And weekly defense is no longer a university.
“There are so many more weekly matchup types that coaches do, how much can you handle mentally in the place where you can get out there and do?
Understanding what’s best in Hunter may be controversial when it comes to Giants. The Browns may choose Hunter on the second pick.
