The New York Giants recently signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to address their quarterback position for the 2025 season, but the team still needs a long-term solution under center. Will general manager Joe Schoen select a QB with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft? A recent projection has New York going in a different direction.
Giants Predicted To Draft Travis Hunter Over Shedeur Sanders At No. 3
In PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, NFL draft analyst Reese Decker has the Giants selecting Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter with the No. 3 overall pick — despite the fact that his teammate, Shedeur Sanders, was still on the board.
Decker has the Giants forming a dominant wide receiver tandem of Hunter and sophomore Malik Nabers, whom New York drafted at No. 6 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Right now, it feels like both Cleveland and New York are leaning away from selecting one at the top, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter added fuel to that belief earlier this week,” Decker wrote. “Les Snead echoed a similar sentiment on ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ saying, ‘We will see the least amount of quarterbacks selected in the first round in a long time.’
“The recent additions of both 31-year-old Jameis Winston and 36-year-old Russell Wilson signal to be bridge quarterbacks rather than long-term solutions, acting as an immediate insurance policy. The New York Giants are desperate for a quarterback, but even they can tell that picking Sanders over his college teammate Travis Hunter would be asinine.
“Hunter is one of only four blue-chip players in this draft class. As a receiver, Hunter has an exceptional feel for space, separation speed, smooth and efficient change of direction, elite body control, strong and natural hands, and always finds a way to come down with the football. He is a dynamic playmaker who always rises to the occasion.
“On the defensive side, Hunter is equally impressive. A physical and willing tackler, he showcases elite ball skills, sharp instincts, and quick, decisive breakability. Hunter has a knack for making plays regardless of his position. He plays to win.
“As a Giant, Hunter would join forces with Malik Nabers, who delivered a sensational rookie campaign in 2024, giving the Big Blue two dynamic playmakers on the perimeter. Add in promising second-year talents like tight end Theo Johnson and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., and suddenly, the Giants are a quarterback away from having a promising young core.”
So, if the Giants don’t select a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick, how would they land a quarterback of the future? Decker believes they would aggressively try to trade up to the end of the first round to select their long-term solution at signal-caller.
“Expect Joe Schoen to be more aggressive than any other team when attempting to move back into the first round to land one, whether it’s Sanders or Jaxson Dart. With the 34th overall pick and a pair of third-rounders at their disposal, the Giants have more than enough draft capital to work up a deal.
“Potential trade partners include Atlanta at No. 15 and Minnesota at No. 24. If their goal is to leapfrog Pittsburgh at No. 21 — who many believe are eyeing Dart — the former could be the ideal target. Atlanta holds only five total picks and may be tempted to move down in exchange for more draft assets.
“However, if the Giants are comfortable with either Sanders or Dart, the Vikings would be a much cheaper option. Minnesota is in greater need of 2025 draft capital, currently holding just four picks next year.”
In this seven-round mock, Decker has the Giants getting lucky and landing Dart at No. 34 overall in the second round.
Hunter’s Scouting Report Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
Hunter might be the safest prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, as he has a chance to become a superstar at two different positions (and potentially both). Hunter is one of the only blue-chip prospects in this class and some NFL executives have him atop their draft board.
Former NFL scout and current PFSN draft analyst Brentley Weissman raved about Hunter is his scouting report.
“Hunter enters the NFL Draft as one of the best prospects in the class, and he also profiles as one of the most intriguing players in recent memory since he legitimately qualifies as a top-five pick at two positions. He is truly a one-of-one type of NFL prospect that will spark a lot of debate for not just the media, but decision-makers at the top of the draft as well.
“The question, of course, lies in what position Hunter will play at the next level and if it is a combination of the two. With that being said, before I dive deeper into his scouting report, I personally believe Hunter is better at wide receiver, and that is the position I’d draft him to play.
“As a prospect, Hunter possesses below-average overall size and length but offers once-in-a-generation type of overall athleticism. He has rare quickness, speed, and burst that allow him to excel and win against most players he lines up against on either side of the ball. Furthermore, Hunter has rare instincts, ball skills and is hyper-competitive, all of which are evident in the way he plays the game.
“When playing offense, Hunter is a big-play threat whenever he touches the football. He displays rare ability with the ball in his hands and has outstanding start/stop quickness and lateral agility to make defenders miss in the open field. Additionally, his speed and acceleration allow him to defeat angles and hit big plays. Hunter is not the most refined route runner and lacks the nuance in his game to set up defenders throughout the route — something that he must develop as he plays more athletic corners in the NFL.
“With that being said, Hunter can create easy separation at the top of the route as he explodes out of cuts, often leaving his defender stuck in place. Hunter is a tremendous deep threat with the speed to stretch the field and the ball skills to track the football downfield.
“He has the rare ability to play the football in the air and is a tremendous ball-winner, even though he has a smaller frame. Hunter has exceptional hands and can catch outside of his frame with ease. His lack of size limits his ability to break tackles as a ball carrier and also makes it difficult for him to sustain blocks down the field; however, the effort is there.
“On the defensive side of the football, Hunter projects to be a lockdown cover man who can excel in both zone and man disciplines. In zone coverage, Hunter displays outstanding instincts and awareness. He can read the quarterback’s eyes while dropping back in his zone and has the quickness to put his foot in the ground to make a play on the football.
“His foot quickness and hip fluidity allow him to be exceptional in mirroring route patterns in man coverage. He is able to stay in phase against most receivers and is never panicked when working down the field. He is a playmaker at corner and has the ability to play the football and come up with interceptions.
“His size is a concern, however, as he lacks the mass and length to be left on an island against NFL-caliber receivers. Hunter struggles when asked to press receivers at the line of scrimmage and can easily get overpowered by bigger wideouts. He lacks the size to win at the catch point at times and will be a liability in run support as he struggles to get off blocks consistently.
“To make Hunter’s evaluation a bit more murky, he’s also struggled to stay healthy throughout his collegiate career. His lack of size and the fact that he played more snaps than any player in college football makes Hunter an injury risk at the next level, and teams must come to the realization he cannot play both ways on a full-time basis in the NFL.
“While many evaluators think Hunter’s ideal fit is as a full-time corner who plays a handful of offensive snaps, I personally think he has more upside as a full time receiver. I have less questions about his rare athleticism translating on the offensive side of the football, and I think he can be an instant game-changing player at receiver. There is no wrong answer here, however, and whichever team drafts him will surely be getting a franchise-altering talent.”