Will Travis Hunter be the NFL’s first two-way superstar?
The answer to that question begins Thursday night when the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is expected to be one of the first players off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Can he balance being a top-level corner and a top-level wide receiver at the next level like he was for Colorado? He may not have to be depending on the team that drafts him. With his level of talent, Hunter could be elite at one position and impactful at the other in a minimal role.
Travis Hunter has an opportunity be a very special NFL star
Which position will he excel at in the NFL is the question. That will likely depend on the needs of the team that drafts him. With there being a high probability of Hunter going No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns, he will have an opportunity to fulfill two of the team’s top needs, corner and receiver but primarily corner for the Browns.
In addressing the possibility of drafting a two-way star to be a two-play player, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski sounds all for it.
"Travis is somebody that is uniquely equipped to do both," Stefanski said Wednesday, via Browns.com. "You know, I remember having a conversation with him about, there's only so many hours in the day, so you're going to have to meet extra with this coach or that coach, and he made a comment that he's a fisherman. He gets up at 5 in the morning quite often, so that's not a problem for him in terms of maximizing his day."
To do both, it’s going to take a ton of hard work, dedication and studying both side of the playbook for Hunter. That’s why many analysts believe corner as his primary position is the best route for the former Colorado star because that allows him to maximize his talents within a defensive scheme, while offensively it may be more difficult for him to adjust as a full-time player because there is more individualized pressure and a larger playbook for him to learn.
But, if any athlete can pull it off, it is Hunter who has proved he is unique and can be dominant on both sides of the ball. As for teams in need of a wide receiver like the New England Patriots. If Hunter were to slide to No. 4, does receiver as his primary position work better in the NFL?
The Patriots signed Stefon Diggs but bringing in Hunter on offense gives Drake Maye an explosive down-the-field target who could then serve as a compliment cornerback to Christian Gonzalez. With a No. 1 corner in place along with a solid No. 2 in Carlton Davis, the Patriots won’t need Hunter to be the guy in the secondary. He could learn the offense, help the team get more explosive and make a situational impact on defense.
Either way a team decides to use him, it will be fascinating to watch and to root for, especially if you are the fan of the team who calls his name in the 2025 NFL Draft.