APRIL 23: Teams interested in the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 picks, with the Patriots also receiving calls, are interested in Hunter, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes. While the Browns view it as “foolish” not to listen to offers for their No. 3 choice, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds that the expectation remains Cleveland will go with the Colorado superstar.
Hunter-to-Cleveland buzz picked up around the Heisman winner’s pro day earlier this month, with Fowler indicating the two-way phenom opted to run routes at the showcase event in part because it would satisfy the Browns. Cleveland views Hunter primarily as a receiver, and while he still wants to play both ways, other teams — the Giants and Titans among them — have pegged Hunter as a cornerback first. Deciding to run routes with an aim to impress Browns brass, after Carter-to-Cleveland rumors had circulated, certainly represents a sign Hunter will be Ohio-bound Thursday.
APRIL 22: The Browns and Giants are both receiving trade interest for the Nos. 2 and 3 selections in Thursday’s draft, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager.
The months-long pre-draft process has yielded a consensus expectation that Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter will be the first three picks, likely in that order. Ward is a virtual lock to be taken by the Titans with the first pick, and Hunter has gained steam as a potential Brown over the last few weeks. That would clear the way for Carter – considered by many to be the best player in the class – falling to the Giants at 3.
However, a last-minute trade involving a top-three pick would be a major last-minute shake-up to the top 10, and potentially beyond.
Such a trade would not involve the Titans, who have listened to offers over the last few months but never seriously entertained moving the draft’s top pick. General manager Mike Borgonzi confirmed that the team rebuffed trade interest and decided on their preferred target.
“We’ve come to a consensus, the entire organization, to stay at that pick,” said Borgonzi (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer).
That has pushed teams who want to move up to inquire with the Browns and the Giants about the availability of their picks. Targeted players in a trade-up would be Hunter, Carter, and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, per Schrager.
It’s also worth noting that trade chatter picks up the week of the draft almost every year, as noted by The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. 49ers general manager John Lynch is not expecting many trades early in the draft because multiple teams want to trade down and target a deep class, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen said last week that he had received calls about the No. 3 selection, but indicated that the team would stick and pick instead. But, after spending plenty of draft capital to acquire starting edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants could still prefer to trade down instead of taking Carter. That would allow them to get a top quarterback prospect – potentially Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post – at a better value while adding more picks, either in this year’s draft or the future.
Both teams are well short of ‘one player away’ to even think about being .500. The correct play is to trade back, but neither will.
It would depend on the offers. Hunter and Carter could be great.
Hunter is 2 players!
Giants traded back in 2021 to take Kadarious Toney passing up on Parsons or Slater. Next year is unknown. You have a chance to take a stud or game changer right now you do it.
Will Hunter end up being one of the 5 to 10 best WR in the NFL? Or one of the 5 to 10 best CB in the league?
If not, this pick makes no sense no matter how cool him playing both ways seems on paper.
I think the infatuation with the idea of Hunter is that you get a competent starter on both sides of the ball (most reasonably a #2 caliber WR and CB) out of one roster spot and paid like one player. That allows a team a lot more flexibility with how to fill out the roster and deploy personnel.
So instead of a great player, you “two” average players who are tired?
I’d take Carter.
#2 WRs and #2 CBs are much better than “average” players, but I lean towards agreeing that I’d rather have Carter.
The Browns have the 2nd pick, not 3rd. Not to mention the first sentence is poorly worded.