With a consensus forming that Miami quarterback Cam Ward will be taken first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns’ pick at No. 2 has become the most intriguing. The Browns will have the choice of at least one of the class’ top quarterbacks, as well as potentially two elite playmakers in Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter.
Teams do everything they can to keep their draft plans a secret. Browns General Manager Andrew Berry, though, may have revealed more than he intended to during a recent press conference.
Andrew Berry Compares Travis Hunter to Baseball Star Shohei Ohtani
For obvious reasons, NFL teams make a point of keeping their cards close to their chest regarding their plans for the draft. With owners, general managers, and coaches remaining, for the most part, tight-lipped, analysts are left reading between the lines. In a recent press conference, Berry compared Hunter to baseball star Shohei Ohtani, in reference to the Colorado prospect’s ability to dominate on both sides of the ball.
“It’s a little bit like Ohtani, right, where, when he’s playing on one side, he’s an outstanding player; if he’s a pitcher, or a hitter, he’s an outstanding player. You obviously get a unicorn if you use him both ways.”
#Browns GM Andrew Berry on viewing Travis Hunter as a receiver first, and “not necessarily” placing a cap on how much Hunter could play on both sides (eventually) pic.twitter.com/SkRshwUHNp
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex)
Berry’s comments strongly hint that the Browns are considering Hunter at Pick 2. Describing Hunter as a “unicorn” if allowed to play both ways, moments after revealing that you would allow him to do exactly that, would seem to leave little need for interpretation.
Reacting to the press conference, “Breakfast Ball” host Craig Carton suggested that Berry had unwittingly announced that Cleveland was drafting Hunter.
“To me, Andrew Berry just announced what the Browns are doing.”
.@markschlereth: "Is comparing Hunter to Ohtani too high of a comparison?"@DannyParkins: "No! If this guy was just a WR he'd be an elite draft prospect, and if he was just a CB would be an elite draft prospect. He happens to be both which makes him a 1of1." pic.twitter.com/3WDorxLONu
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1)
Latest PFSN Mock Draft Also Projects Hunter to the Browns
It’s not just Carton that expects Hunter to be wearing a Browns cap on draft night. The latest seven-round Mock Draft from PFSN’s Ian Cummings sends the wide receiver/cornerback hybrid to Cleveland, also referring to the player as a “unicorn.”
“Next to a QB, the Cleveland Browns’ biggest need is more playmaking talent. There’s arguably no QB worth taking at No. 2, and Andrew Berry has said he views Travis Hunter as a WR first.
“Hunter is a unicorn simply with his high-end two-way ability, but as a WR, he has devastating potential as a three-level threat. He can carve up defenders with his routes, generate high-end RAC with his speed, agility, and bend, and make high-flying grabs.”
Whether Berry’s praise of Hunter was a slip of the tongue or simply an honest assessment of a phenomenal player will become clear in just a matter of days.
