Giants ‘Would not be afraid’ to use Travis Hunter in both offense and defense 

The New York Giants are more than willing to embrace Travis Hunter’s unique skillset should they select him in this month’s NFL Draft, according to general manager Joe Schoen.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Schoen said the team “would not be afraid” to deploy Hunter on both sides of the ball, offense and defense, if the Colorado star lands in New York.

A Rare Two-Way Talent

Hunter has made headlines throughout college football as a standout at both cornerback and wide receiver. The 21-year-old’s remarkable two-way performances earned him the 2024 Heisman Trophy, cementing his place as one of the top prospects heading into the 2025 Draft.

Now, with the Giants holding the third overall pick after a 3-14 season, there’s a real chance the Florida native could be headed to MetLife Stadium.

Schoen: “He’s Proven He Can Do It”

While acknowledging the mental demands of playing both positions at the NFL level, Schoen expressed full confidence in Hunter’s physical ability to take on the challenge.

“I think it would be difficult, but he’s proven that he can do it and be available,” Schoen said. “That’s the unique part. You’re always concerned with the workload and the physical toll, but physically, I wouldn’t doubt the kid.”

He added, “Our situation is unique, we’ve got three solid receivers and we’re happy with our secondary. So we wouldn’t shy away from letting him play both ways.”

Schoen also highlighted the increased mental complexity of the pro game: “It’s not like college where you can run a base defense week to week. In the NFL, it’s matchup-specific. Can you handle the mental load and still execute at a high level? That’s the question.”

Hunter: “It’s Never Playing Football Again”

Hunter, for his part, has made it clear he has no intention of giving up his dual-role identity. In a recent interview with CBS Sports, he said he’d rather walk away from football entirely than be told to play just one position.

“It’s never playing football again,” he said. “I’ve done this my whole life. I love being on the field and I feel like I can dominate on both sides.”

Confident and competitive, Hunter added, “I believe in myself. I’ve always felt like I could do whatever I put my mind to and I plan to prove that at the next level.”