The 2025 NFL Draft is taking heat for lacking true blue-chip talent. While it may not be loaded with elite prospects, there’s one guy who stands out above the rest: Travis Hunter.
Hunter played for the Colorado Buffaloes under Deion Sanders, the Hall of Famer turned head coach. What separates him from every other prospect in the draft? He played both wide receiver and cornerback — and excelled at both.
One-of-a-Kind Player Travis Hunter Receives Incredible Compliment
Some analysts have tried to argue which position he’s better at, but there’s no clear answer. He’s got the tools to lock down NFL receivers on defense, but he’s also got the skills to be a playmaker on offense.
Hunter has said he wants to keep playing both ways in the NFL. That’s probably not happening full-time. While he might get used in special packages, the demands of the pro game and the risk of injury make a two-way role tough to sustain.
In Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft, Hunter is projected to go second overall to the Cleveland Browns. Sure, the Browns could use a franchise quarterback, but questions around Hunter’s college teammate Shedeur Sanders pushed Cleveland to go with the safer option. And right now, they seem to be seriously thinking about Hunter.
Recently, Browns general manager Andrew Berry was asked about Hunter at a press conference.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe posted on X about Berry’s comments: “Browns GM Andrew Berry says they see Travis Hunter 1st as WR, 2nd on D. They won’t cap him but notes what he’s trying to do hasn’t been done in NFL. Berry: ‘It’s a little bit like Ohtani. Pitcher or hitter he’s an outstanding player. You get a unicorn if you use him both ways.’”
Berry was comparing Hunter to Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers star and widely viewed as the greatest two-way player in MLB history. Ohtani has dominated as both a pitcher and a hitter, winning multiple MVP awards, earning All-Star nods, and helping power his team deep into the postseason. In 2021, he was so dominant on both sides of the ball that he was awarded the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award.
Browns GM Andrew Berry says they see Travis Hunter 1st as WR, 2nd on D. They won’t cap him but notes what he’s trying to do hasn’t been done in NFL.
Berry: “It’s a little bit like Ohtani. Pitcher or hitter he’s an outstanding player. You get a unicorn if you use him both ways.” pic.twitter.com/ysNF4eT6yj
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe)
Cam Ward is expected to go No. 1 overall, but Hunter and Abdul Carter are viewed as the two most talented players in this class. In Pro Football Network’s scouting report, Hunter is called the most “intriguing player” in the draft.
Hunter measures in at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds — not quite the ideal size for some scouts. But his elite athleticism more than makes up for that.
He didn’t participate in workouts at the NFL combine, choosing instead to perform at Colorado’s Pro Day. Though known to have solid speed, he didn’t run the 40-yard dash, preferring to focus on receiver and cornerback drills to show what he does best.
Once the draft kicks off, don’t expect Hunter to be on the board long. The only question now is whether the Browns believe he has enough Ohtani in him to make the gamble worth it.
