here are typically two types of NFL Drafts. The first is the kind we saw in 2024, where the consensus first overall pick was clear and the rest of the draft fell into place. However, this year’s draft presents a different scenario, with fans still debating where each player will land. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders stand out as the top quarterbacks available.
Meanwhile, both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter have made strong cases as the best player in the draft. While questions persist about Hunter’s viability as a dual-threat at the NFL level, his head coach, Deion Sanders, took an unexpected stance on the matter. Rather than placing the pressure on his player, Sanders shifted the focus to the league itself.
Deion Sanders Believes Travis Hunter Best Suited as Two-Way Player in NFL
Travis Hunter put together a historic season for the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024. Playing over 84% of total snaps, including both offensive and defensive snaps, he was a one-man wrecking crew, en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.
However, with the physicality of the NFL on another level, his ability to play both sides of the football has been questioned, accounting for the wear and tear he would be subject to. But, at Colorado’s Pro Day, Sanders made it clear that those questions were irrelevant.
Instead, Sanders offered a completely different perspective. When asked which side of the ball he would prefer to see Hunter play, the former two-time Super Bowl champion remained unfazed, simply responding, “Both.” With his wealth of experience, Sanders wasn’t speaking without purpose.
“The NFL is a slow game. You’re going to the huddle. And how’s the contact nowadays? Minimum. So that game is more conducive to him being successful than the college game. Because college is tempo, tempo, tempo, tempo.”
Colorado HC Deion Sanders talks about his son/QB Shedeur and how they’re handling some emerging skepticism. Plus, Coach Prime tells Brian Baldinger and me why Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter would be an even better two-way player in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/S3bvUR0Cqg
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 4, 2025
For Sanders, the gap between plays and the frequent stoppages in the game make it easier for the Buffaloes’ superstar to thrive. “Please, he’s going to be jogging during the game because he’s going to have all that energy, man.”
The common consensus, considering the monetary difference, was that Hunter might opt to focus solely on offense if forced to choose. But Sanders wasn’t having any of it. “He’s built for this. You would be an idiot to sit out there with your defense on the field and your corner’s getting killed and he’s on the sideline sitting by you.”
The latest mock draft from PFSN has Hunter joining the New England Patriots with the fourth overall pick.
However, Brentley Weissman, in his analysis, also seems to lean toward a wide receiver role for Hunter. “They signed Stefon Diggs, and I think Diggs is the perfect veteran receiver who can teach Hunter the nuances of playing the position at a high level in the NFL.”
But with Hunter remaining firm in his stance to be a two-way player, and Sanders also making a strong case for him, he might just break the mold once again.