Giants draft preview: If they don’t land Travis Hunter, what do the Giants do at wide receiver?

Do they need to find a running mate for Malik Nabers?

The New York Giants have new quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Free agency, though, did not bring any significant additions to the play-making arsenal at Wilson’s and Winston’s disposal.

The Giants did, somewhat surprisingly, bring Darius Slayton back. That was a win because his loss would have left a hole. The additions of L’il Jordan Humphrey and Zach Pascal might help around the margins, but neither is a difference-maker.

Can the Giants find play-making help at wide receiver in the draft if two-way star Travis Hunter is not available to them? Do they even really need to add to the wide receiver position?

Let’s look at some of the Day 2 and Day 3 options.

Additions: L’il Jordan Humphrey, Zach Pascal
Losses: Gunner Olszewski
Roster: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, L’il Jordan Humphrey, Zach Pascal, Montrell Washington
Draft need: At best — A playmaker who could become WR2 opposite Malik Nabers, or add more explosive playmaking that Wan’Dale Robinson; At least — A depth player who could challenge Jalin Hyatt as WR4.

Day 2 options

Jayden Higgins, Iowa State — Higgins would bring a body type the Giants don’t really have at 6-4⅛, 214 pounds. Check out the Steve Smith/James Palmer scouting report on Higgins:

Dane Brugler of The Athletic has a Round 2 grade on Higgins in his draft guide. He says:

With the body control and grace of a former point guard, Higgins has the smooth athleticism that translates to his route running, and he is more than just a possession target — even if his tape doesn’t show a dangerous playmaker after the catch. He is a big, strong target who is natural at tracking and adjusting to the football, regardless of the placement or coverage (just three drops on 210 targets at Iowa State). Overall, Higgins is an ascending height-weight-speed athlete with the physicality and catch radius to be a productive NFL starter as he continues developing his route/release precision. His game is similar to what Nico Collins put on tape at Michigan.

For what it’s worth, I loved Collins coming out of Michigan. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round in 2021, and with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons has far outplayed his draft position.

Waldman says:

Seeking a perimeter receiver who can win when thrown open and even erase some inaccuracies with targets in tight coverage? Higgins is near the top of the list.

If Higgins’ hand strength were a little better when defenders swat their hands on his hands and/or the ball, Higgins would easily be the best pass catcher in this class. As is, he’s still an asset.

Higgins has good releases from the line that should only get better. The same is true with his setups near the top of his stems and breaks. His route running is effective and with only minor details to address, if at all.

I doubt he will be there, but if Higgins is somehow available at No. 65, the first pick of Round 3, I will have a hard time arguing against the Giants selecting him.

Jack Bech, TCU — I have no idea if the 6-1¼, 214-pound Bech is an NFL slot receiver, an outside receiver, or some combination of both. He was a tight end when he started his college career at LSU.

Bech is a productive player who won Senior Bowl MVP, playing a month after his brother was killed in a New Orleans terror attack.

“He’s truly the MVP of the week,” American Team head coach Bubba Ventrone said of Bech. “Not only did he perform at an extremely high level every day, he’s an incredible person. He’s tough. Whoever gets that kid is lucky, extremely lucky to get him on their team.”

Brugler says:

Although he isn’t super dynamic, Bech is a smooth, physical athlete who can get in and out of breaks with gear change and route savvy (head fakes, body lean, etc.). He is a skilled ball tracker and plays with supreme confidence in his ability to adjust, frame and finish grabs (one drop on 91 targets in 2024). Overall, Bech’s acceleration is more build-up than immediate, and he will need to prove himself versus NFL press coverage, but he is urgent as a route runner with the ball-winning skills and competitive personality that will play. He has experience both inside and outside, and his play style is reminiscent of Puka Nacua.

Day 3 options

Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas — Late in the draft, sometimes you just bet on athletic traits. The 6-foot-3⅝, 214-pound TeSlaa has them.

In his draft guide, Brugler says:

A Wing-T quarterback in high school, he got his undergrad in playing receiver at the Division II level before jumping to the SEC (with mixed results) the past two seasons. Showing impressive athleticism for his size, TeSlaa has speed to work vertically or snap of routes, and he has natural catch-point focus (zero drops in 100 targets at Arkansas) — especially for a player who has only been playing the position the past five years.

However, his freaky athleticism doesn’t always show within the context of the route. And though his pre-draft process was impressive, NFL scouts are left asking why the production and impact wasn’t better on tape. Overall, TeSlaa is still very much a work in progress with his route running and ability to create space, but the athletic tools and ball skills are exceptional and the football character and toughness will help sway doubters. He projects as a depth receiver with upside on offense and special teams.

My main hesitation with TeSlaa is he looks like a big slot only as of now.

Savion Williams, TCU — Williams isn’t really a true wide receiver. He is a receiver/running back/Wildcat quarterback. At 6-3⅞, 222 pounds he is a “playmaker” who can be used in a lot of ways. The Giants have no one like him, and I can imagine Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka finding lots of creative ways to use him. Williams draws Deebo Samuel and Cordarrelle Patterson comparisons.

The Giants had Williams in for a ‘30’ visit. I don’t have a list of all 30 players the Giants visited with, but Williams is the only wide receiver among the 22 players I have seen reported.

Brugler says:

He split his 2024 snaps between wide receiver (exclusively to the left of the formation) and the backfield (84 snaps), as either a running back or wildcat quarterback. With just 23 targets of more than 10 yards (resulting in nine catches), he was basically an extension of the run game on screens and slants. He also averaged eight carries per game over the final six contests of 2024.

A big, physically imposing athlete, Williams has some freaky traits that will tease playmaking flashes (very fitting that he grew up idolizing Calvin Johnson). He can play above the rim and has a knack for pulling in contested catches, but he needs to show better confidence in his hands and improve the details of his routes. Overall, TCU leaned into Williams’ unique athletic profile in 2024, and the manufactured touches showcased his ability to create with the ball. However, the move came out of necessity, because of Williams’ inconsistencies as a traditional receiver. He projects as more of a “joker” weapon and needs a creative play caller who can utilize him in diferent ways (similar to Cordarrelle Patterson).

33rd Team says:

TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Savion Williams is a diverse weapon who boasts impressive physical abilities and a promising bundle of potential for his NFL franchise. Williams was unleashed as a diverse weapon for TCU this season. His powerful frame and explosive open-field speed created matchup challenges for defenses and offered the Horned Frogs the ability to be ambiguous with their personnel packaging.

That same role could be available to Williams in the NFL, but his implementation will be play-caller and scheme-specific. These super-diverse players are not one-size-fits-all, and some of the other elements of traditional wide receiver play will be works in progress for Williams at the NFL level. As such, he is a talent that will need development to stay on the field or else be relegated to a sub-package type player.

Will Sheppard, Colorado — I put Sheppard on the list because the Giants have apparently shown an exceptional amount of interest in a player Brugler lists as a priority free agent.

Now, maybe that dinner was more about gleaning information about Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. But, let’s not be cynical.

Sheppard is a productive player who caught 200 passes for 2,688 yards and 27 touchdowns in 56 collegiate games.

Brugler says:

Sheppard doesn’t have dynamic speed, and detaching from NFL athleticism won’t be easy for him, but he is a seasoned route runner with the hand-eye coordination to be a potential possession target.