By Adeniyi Precious 
NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t overly impressed with this year’s draft class, but he does see two “special” talents: Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
On a media call Wednesday, Kiper said Carter and Hunter are the only two players in the 2025 draft worthy of that label. Both could be in the mix for the New York Giants’ first-round pick, though the team is also eyeing quarterbacks.
Carter, a dominant edge rusher, has been a force all season and even played through an injury in the College Football Playoff, proving he’s a relentless competitor. Hunter, meanwhile, is a rare two-way player, excelling as both a wide receiver and a cornerback. However, some doubt whether he’s truly elite at either position.
Kiper is also one of the few experts ranking Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders as the top passer in the draft, ahead of Miami’s Cam Ward, who led the nation in total offense and was a Heisman finalist. While Ward is projected by many as the No. 1 pick, Kiper sees Sanders as the better prospect.
With the Giants holding the No. 3 pick, the big question is whether they’ll stick with their plan to draft a quarterback or take a chance on one of these “special” defenders.