Former New York Giants extensive receiver Victor Cruz believes the crew ought to zero in on Travis Hunter with the No. 3 general choose within the 2025 NFL Draft.
Whereas many imagine the Giants ought to go along with a quarterback within the draft, Cruz doesn’t imagine Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders is the reply to fixing the franchise’s issues.
“ I feel as a lot as I like these two quarterbacks, I simply don’t assume these two — if we have been to accumulate both of them — that they’re going to show this crew from a three-win crew to a 10-win crew in a single day,” says Cruz in a one-on-one interview on behalf of his partnership with End Final. “So I feel we have to be ready to construct this roster.”
Cruz’s argument is sensible contemplating the Giants have many holes exterior of simply the quarterback place. Drafting a once-in-a-generation dual-threat prospect comparable to Hunter might kill two birds with one stone by bringing in a participant that has the potential to be a dominant receiver together with being a shutdown cornerback.
Hunter is coming off of a ridiculous season wherein he performed mainly each offensive and defensive snap for the Buffaloes whereas posting 96 receptions for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns along with 25 tackles and 4 interceptions. He ranked second within the nation in receiving touchdowns and fourth in receptions and receiving yards.
Whereas it stays to be seen simply how a lot of a two-way participant the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner turns into within the NFL, Cruz calls the Colorado Buffaloes alum a “staple” and any person Giants followers can get enthusiastic about.
“ Clearly, a man like Travis Hunter, I actually like,” says Cruz. “I feel he’s a man that it’s arduous to recreation plan for. He’s gonna have a possibility to play each side of the ball. I feel he’s a man that may be a staple in your soccer crew from a expertise perspective that may are available in, followers might be enthusiastic about having him.
“He’ll be a media darling out of the gate, for my part,” Cruz continues to say. “I feel he’ll begin to change the style for lots of Giants followers.”
Cruz: Giants Extra Than One Quarterback Away
The Giants have two constructing blocks in rookie standout receiver Malik Nabers and Professional Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence. Nonetheless, past that, New York very a lot has the look of a crew that simply went 3-14 with the worst report within the NFL.
When one considers that the 2 groups forward of the Giants, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, additionally each want franchise quarterbacks, that may imply New York must transfer up within the draft to pick both Ward or Sanders. That may doubtless imply promoting off a number of property and draft picks, which might set the franchise again even additional.
“I need us to be good and construct a roster that’s going to be good for years to return,” says Cruz. “Not that these quarterbacks (Ward and Sanders) received’t assist us win down the road or be nice quarterbacks, I simply assume we’re in roster constructing mode, proper?”
“I don’t assume we’re in one-quarterback-away mode,” Cruz continues to say. “We’re in roster-building mode. I feel a focus or an awesome piece of the puzzle so as to add to your roster when it comes to expertise is a man that may change the complexion of a recreation on both aspect of the ball. I feel Travis Hunter does that for any crew that he will get drafted to. I might love for him to go to a crew just like the Giants.”
Cruz: Goal Arch To Be Subsequent Nice Manning In New York
So far as who Cruz believes may very well be the long-term reply at quarterback for the Giants, he proposes that New York make a transfer for Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning in subsequent 12 months’s draft when he turns into eligible. That may clearly be notable contemplating Arch is the nephew of Eli Manning, the two-time Tremendous Bowl champion and former quarterback of each the Giants and Cruz.
”I imply, he checks all of the bins,” says Cruz. “In case you take a look at New York, man with Manning on the again of his jersey in New York, one of many quickest Mannings that we’ve seen on the quarterback place, and in addition spins it effectively and throws the ball downfield and makes large performs in that regard. I simply assume he checks numerous the bins.”
The 19-year-old quarterback has simply two profession begins below his belt however tasks to be the starter for the Longhorns subsequent season with incumbent starter Quinn Ewers doubtless both hitting the NFL Draft or getting into the switch portal.
”That’s the kind of quarterback that it is advisable to win video games within the NFL,” Cruz says of Manning. “In case you look across the league, guys that may throw it, guys which can be athletic sufficient to run it when issues go bitter, and don’t flip the ball over. I feel the child has had two begins at Texas, 300 yards passing, over 100 yards speeding, and I do know that’s only a small pattern measurement, but when he can proceed that pattern subsequent 12 months when he turns into a full time starter, he’s going to have a possibility to be with a crew just like the Giants.”
Cruz acknowledges that if Manning lives as much as the hype and his household identify, he’ll clearly be the highest choose within the draft. That may imply the Giants might need to maneuver up and “wager the home” to get their subsequent franchise quarterback within the 2026 NFL Draft.
“ If we don’t have the identical choose subsequent 12 months, we have now to wager the home,” says Cruz. “We now have to commerce up, we have now to go get this child, no matter it takes. I’ve seen crazier issues occur within the draft with guys with the final identify Manning.”
