Could the Giants really wait that long if they want the Ole Miss quarterback?
On Sunday, I gave you a four-round New York Giants mock draft of my own to dissect. Today, here is a seven-round scenario from Pro Football Network for your consideration.
Round 1 (No. 3) — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
The Giants get shut out in the Cam Ward/Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes, as they go 1-2 respectively to the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns. PFN gives them Hunter. Ben Rolfe writes:
The New York Giants are one out of a couple of landing spots where Travis Hunter may be able to play both ways. The Giants need playmakers on both sides of the ball, and Hunter would provide that option. He will most likely be a full-time defensive player and then see some offensive snaps in certain situations.
The athleticism and versatility that Hunter offers are tantalizing. He is so good with the ball in his hands — it will be tempting to play him as much as possible. Any team drafting him will need to be smart because playing 1,500 snaps is close to impossible in the modern NFL. As a rookie, Hunter could also be a valuable special-teams option alongside playing on defense and then have a couple of packages a game on offense.
Valentine’s View: About that two-way thing. Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, as well-connected as anyone covering the team, wrote this weekend that Hunter is “being viewed as a cornerback by the Giants.” He also wrote that the Giants feel having the 183-pound Hunter play both ways in the NFL is “not feasible because of the high risk of injury and the inability to practice both positions each week.”
With that in mind, I have been re-watching Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter lately and wondering if — even with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns — the Giants would select Carter in this scenario.
Schwartz wrote that it is “certainly plausible” Carter could be the No. 1 player on the Giants’ draft board.”
Round 2 (No. 34) — Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Rolfe writes:
The New York Giants have never found a replacement for Evan Engram, and this has sometimes affected their offensive play. They have had playmakers at all the other offensive positions in the past three years but not at wide receiver. Drafting Harold Fannin Jr. could fix that immediately.
Fannin is a dynamic, explosive tight end who plays with the power and versatility of a Deebo Samuel-type weapon. Though he may not fit the traditional mold at his position, his rocked-up frame, sudden burst, and elite contact balance make him a nightmare for defenders. Blocking is his weakness and will limit his utility in the position.
Valentine’s View: I cannot imagine a world where the Giants make this pick. With a plethora of offensive and defensive linemen, cornerbacks, and quarterback Jaxson Dart on the board here I have no idea how anyone could believe that selecting a tight end is the best play for the Giants.
For me, the play here is Dart. Perhaps if the Giants swing a trade for Matthew Stafford this pick would be something other than quarterback. Then again, if the Giants swing a Stafford trade this pick is almost certainly being made by the Los Angeles Rams.
Here are some of the other players PFN passed on — players I believe would be better selections for the Giants here:
Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon; Wyatt Milum, G, West Virginia; Jahdae Barron, S, Texas; Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona; Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State; Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue; Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame;
There are, in fact, several others. But, you get the point.
Round 3 (No. 65) — Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
PFN says:
Having missed out on the top two quarterbacks, the Giants finally get their signal-caller in Jaxson Dart. Whether they also add a veteran to start in 2025 is yet to be seen, but Dart has development potential. He is a natural leader and playmaker, which is a great starting point.
Dart elevates his team with pinpoint passes, sharp reads, and trust in his receivers. He excels at exploiting man coverage, finding matchups, and winning 50/50 plays. While his game has few flaws, he sometimes locks in downfield too long, risking ball security. Those daring throws into tight coverage might not always succeed against NFL corners, but with his full skill set, Dart has the tools to thrive in the NFL.
Valentine’s View: Obviously, I agree with this selection. I just don’t believe right now that it is realistic to be able to wait until pick No. 65 to make it.
The rest of the draft
PFN has the Giants trading pick No. 104 in Round 4 to the Pittsburgh Steelers for picks 122, 163 and 238.
Round 4 (No. 122) — Elijah Roberts, DT, SMU
Round 4 (No. 134, projected compensatory pick) — Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
Round 5 (No. 155) — Teddye Buchanan, LB, Cal
Round 5 (No. 163) — Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M
Round 7 (No. 221) — Isas Waxter, CB, Villanova
Round 7 (No. 238) — Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (FL)
Round 7 (No. 248) — Gerad Christian-Lichtenham, OT, Oregon State
I do like the Day 3 volume play, and the fact that three of the seven picks are offensive or defensive linemen. I will admit to not having studied any of these players, but the scouting report from 33rd Team makes the 6-foot-3, 290-pound Roberts sound like a perfect player for defensive line coach Dre Patterson:
Elijah Roberts is a dense, powerful defender with the requisite length to play as a point-of-attack defender at the NFL level. He boasts some surprising versatility with his usage at SMU, being charged with rushing from a 3T to standing up and rushing from 2-point stances off the edge.
He’ll be best served as a base end to play over tackles and help generate knockback to set the edge. Roberts is a powerful player with good linear force; his hands are active and stiff. This isn’t necessarily a featured pass rush talent, but he has shown a spatial feel for creases, and SMU successfully turned him loose on stunts and as a crash defender to attack gaps.
Your thoughts on this scenario, Giants fans?
