Giants’ Brian Daboll having fun evaluating Travis Hunter

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Giants’ changes to the quarterback room have added more questions to their draft process. The most prominent is will they still take a quarterback with the No. 3 pick?

General manager Joe Schoen said Monday that signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston allows more flexibility if a quarterback they desire isn’t available. That means the Giants could pivot to drafting another player such as reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

The Colorado receiver/defensive back is a tantalizing prospect with his athleticism and success at two positions. Coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday the Giants are evaluating him at both spots but didn’t say which position they prefer him at.

“It’s really remarkable what he has done, and the ability to perform at that level, not really getting rest,” Daboll said at the NFL annual meetings. “So he’s been a fun player to evaluate and to meet and talk with. He’s a heck of a player.”

For Daboll, he knows someone that’s done it before in new offensive assistant Troy Brown. As a receivers coach with the Patriots, Daboll coached Troy Brown, who filled in as an emergency defensive back in 2004.

Brown had three interceptions that season for the Super Bowl champions along with 17 receptions. However, Daboll noted Brown was in his 12th season at the time and his familiarity with the offense made it easier to focus on learning the defensive side.

“He was smart, he was tough, he loved the game of football,” Daboll said of Brown. “He was competitive, and he had great traits to be able to do that again when he was playing it later in his career. He didn’t need to meet with receivers as much because he already knew the offense inside and out.”

That’s different than Hunter coming in as a rookie. He’ll need time to learn the NFL intricacies of either position. Despite his football IQ, it’s difficult for anyone to master one NFL role, let alone two.

Still, it’s a process he and any team would love to be a part of. If the Giants don’t take a quarterback in the first round, Hunter is certainly an option.

“I think he’s a good player in both ways,” Daboll said.

No decision on play-calling duties until preseason

After last season, Daboll and president/CEO John Mara had conversations about if Daboll should give up play-calling duties.

Daboll said a decision won’t be made until the preseason. Both he and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will share duties through OTAs.

“We’ll go through that whole process leading up to the preseason games and see where we’re at,” Daboll said.

With Daboll resuming play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka last season, the Giants ranked 30th in total offense and 31st in points per game (16.1) after playing four quarterbacks last season. It was a decline from 2023 when the team finished 29th in offense and 30th in scoring.

Studying Russell Wilson

Daboll hasn’t met with most of his new players, including Wilson. But he’s done his homework watching every pass play of Wilson’s career.

The total was about 7,500 including preseason and playoffs. It was enough to start thinking aobout how to best use him, but those plans won’t start taking shape until April 21 when the Giants report for team workouts.

“He’s been a good player,” Daboll said of Wilson. “He’s got good leadership traits to him, smart. He’s played a lot of football and look forward to working with him and I would say Jameis as well.”

Evan Neal’s role TBD

Offensive lineman Evan Neal enters the last season of his rookie contract with a shaky future. The Giants return all five offensive line starters and also signed a swing tackle this offseason in James Hudson III.

Neal’s struggles at tackle are well documented, and the 2022 first-round pick could switch to guard. Daboll said any changes won’t be discussed until April at the earliest. Schoen spoke to Neal and his agent recently and said Neal was flexible to what role would suit him best.

“When he comes in, he’s willing to do whatever he can do to help the team.” Schoen said. “If that’s tackle or guard, he’s open to it.”