Wide receiver or cornerback? That debate continues, but Travis Hunter’s status as an elite prospect isn’t up for discussion. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has set himself apart from the field on both sides of the ball.
Seen as an almost consensus top-five pick, Hunter would be a major addition to any team. Whether defensively or offensively, the Colorado Buffaloes star can stand out, even if a team decides to fulfill his desire to play both positions full-time.
5 Potential Landing Spots for Travis Hunter
Several teams at the top of the draft need quarterbacks, but with only two names separating themselves from the pack, not every team will land one. Some will have to address other areas, and Hunter, as a legit dual threat, could fill multiple holes.
Here are five teams that could win the Travis Hunter sweepstakes.
Tennessee Titans
Last season, the Tennessee Titans were one of the worst teams in football, as their draft position shows. They need major improvements on both offense and defense, making Hunter a solid fit.
Ian Cummings, in his mock draft for PFSN, made the case for Hunter in Tennessee. His argument was simple: “Wide receiver or cornerback? Up to you. He can be an All-Pro at both. While Travis Hunter’s position projection is complicated, the outcome projection isn’t.”
Whether at WR or CB, Cummings believes Hunter would be a success. “At WR, he’d be an elite three-level threat for Brian Callahan. At CB, he’d be a ballhawk of terrifying proportions.”
New York Giants
Like the Titans, the New York Giants struggled on both sides of the ball. They could use Hunter to build a stronger defense after ranking 20th last season in PFSN’s Defense+ metric.
Unlike Cummings, Dalton Miller sees Hunter’s potential, as does Mina Kimes, to excel at cornerback in the NFL.
“Hunter likely wants to play on both sides of the ball at the NFL level. His wallet would certainly want him to play a significant amount of snaps on the offensive side of the ball. However, teams likely won’t give that much thought considering how difficult it is to find an island defensively.”
Miller added: “Hunter is that island. He’s the most intelligent cornerback since Patrick Surtain, and he just so happens to have the best ball skills in the class as a wide receiver, let alone for cornerbacks.”
It’s unlikely New York is building a playoff-worthy roster this season. But by reaching out to players like Aaron Rodgers, building a strong defense for a future QB could be the best plan.
Hunter gives them the best chance at that and would be a great fit in a market like New York.
Cleveland Browns
With Myles Garrett still in Cleveland, the Browns could draft a quarterback to build a competitive roster and keep Garrett happy. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year already anchors a solid defense, and the Browns need to add an offense to support it.
In his mock draft, Jacob Infante made the case for the Browns to go after Hunter. “With a quarterback gone at No. 1, the Cleveland Browns truly have a ton of flexibility at No. 2 in this mock draft.
Abdul Carter is certainly tempting, but there’s a rare skill set that could be had by picking near the top of this class.”
Infante added, “While he has potential as a wide receiver at the next level, I like him better in a part-time offensive role to maximize his elite ball skills and fluidity as a cornerback in coverage. Wherever he ends up, you can expect him to play a role on both sides of the ball.”
On a team that ranked last in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last season, Cleveland could use the dynamic wide receiver.
Jacksonville Jaguars
This one is unlikely, as four teams ahead of the Jaguars could take the Heisman Trophy winner. But if Hunter drops to No. 5, Jacksonville would be smart to grab a player who can help on both sides of the ball.
If Trevor Lawrence stays healthy, a pairing with Brian Thomas Jr. should be explosive. But Jacksonville needs help defensively, ranking second-to-last in PFSN’s Defense+ metric.
Infante, in his mock draft, echoed that thought: “Travis Hunter is a rare two-way talent who has a high ceiling at both cornerback and wide receiver. I project him best as a full-time corner with occasional snaps on offense, as his elite ball skills and fluidity would provide for an easier path to an All-Pro career.”
Even with the occasional set on offense, Jacksonville would benefit from Hunter boosting their potentially explosive unit.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have Drake Maye but little else to show on either side of the ball. Adding Hunter gives them a true blue-chip prospect, and New England might be one of the few teams where Hunter could see significant snaps on both offense and defense.
Infante, in his case for Hunter to the Patriots, made a strong point: “There hasn’t been a prospect like Travis Hunter in years.” After playing over 80% of snaps during the 2024 college season, Hunter has proven he can handle it.
However, Infante believes Hunter’s real value is as a cornerback. “While he has upside as a receiver, his elite ball skills and fluidity make him even more dangerous as a cornerback. No matter where he plays, expect him to contribute on both sides of the ball.”