College football prospects to watch in Week 2 that could fit the Giants' needs

We're heading into the second week of the college football season and it's not yet clear which talents will ultimately be among the best in the class. As we do every week, we have five highly sought after and talented prospects who could be a future fit for the Giants and we recommend keeping an eye on them this weekend.

CB Will Johnson, Michigan

After a mixed debut last week, Will Johnson, widely considered the best cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft, is hoping to return with a more consistent performance against Texas' explosive offense.

Johnson will face many faces at the line of scrimmage, and going up against new wide receiver Isaiah Bond will be a big test early in the season.

Johnson is technically adept and has a lot of patience and instincts for a cornerback. He is a true CB1 candidate with versatile game systems to play man and zone coverage at a high level.

The Giants already have Deonte Banks as CB1 and rookie Dru Phillips as a slot corner. Although they signed Adoree' Jackson to fill a void at CB2, it's probably fair to say that another perimeter defense cornerback is a desperate need for this Giants team unless general manager Joe Schoen arranges a trade for a second cornerback before the deadline or signs a veteran in next year's free agency period.

WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Do the Giants need another wide receiver after signing Malik Nabers in April? We think so, especially if they don't retain Darius Slayton, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this year.

Enter Colorado's Travis Hunter, a cornerback/receiver hybrid who is a first-round pick at both positions. Adding him as a wide receiver on a roster with Nabers, Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson (we suspect Darius Slayton will move on after this year) would take an already elite-looking receiver group to the next level.

Hunter is a good route runner with explosive athleticism and incredible ball skills. Hunter and Nabers would be a great pass receiving duo with a similar “Dawg” mentality and could become high-level playmakers in the Giants offense.

IDL Deone Walker, Kentucky

This offseason, the Giants wanted to strengthen their defense. In addition to Dexter Lawrence, they have veteran Rakeem Nunez-Roches under contract until 2025 and a number of young faces behind him, such as Jordon Riley, DJ Davidson and Elijah Chatman.

Deone Walker is built like a traditional nose tackle but has the athleticism and pass-rush ability of a 3-technique player. He has great hands for breaking blocks and working his way past interior offensive linemen on his way to the quarterback.

Walker could play as a base/odd-front defensive end, as his experience allows him to line up the offensive tackles. On pass attempts, he can be sent inside with Lawrence to form a fearsome interior duo that can command multiple blockers and give outside linebackers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns the ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks in one-on-one situations.

IOL Tyler Booker, Alabama

If the Giants are smart, they will try to add young talent to their offensive line each year in the draft, if only to give Carmen Bricillo the opportunity to develop into a potential starter who can step in in the event of an injury or if the players ahead of her in the rankings move up.

If you're looking for another reason why offensive line reinforcements are so important, the unit's projected starters looked solid this summer. However, until the unit comes together and plays multiple snaps as a whole, we can't say the unit has improved.

Until then, it's important to keep an eye out for potential players who can bolster their protection. And Alabama's Tyler Booker is one to keep an eye on. Booker is a big, physical blocker who can easily move opponents away from the line.

He is best against power rushers and is a strong bumper (assist) blocker when left uncovered. If head coach/playmaker Brian Daboll plans to run the football to support the passing attack, Booker could be a good addition and add more bite to that rushing attack.

QB Cam Ward, Miami

Until the Giants' current starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, calms the critics with solid play, this franchise will continue to be in dire need of a quarterback.

If Jones doesn't prove he's the right fit for the future, the Giants should use their draft capital to pursue a new signal caller early in the draft, and we think Miami's Cam Ward is worth a serious look.

Ward had an incredible start to the season last week against Florida, combining top-notch arm talent with the athleticism and confidence we look for in a potential franchise quarterback.

Ward made plays inside and outside of structure last week that looked easy. It's tantalizing and exciting to imagine him throwing to Malik Nabers and ushering in a new guard/era for the New York Giants.