It might not be clear if Travis Hunter plays wide receiver or cornerback or, as he wishes, both at the NFL level. At the collegiate level, he showed his incredible talent and athleticism, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2024 in the process. But even with doubt about his eventual spot in the lineup, Hunter is a bonafide superstar at either spot.
His combination of size and athleticism makes him a nightmare on both sides of the football. As draft day comes closer, one analyst made a direct comparison to describe what fans could expect from the Colorado Buffaloes superstar.
Travis Hunter – the New Age Antonio Brown?
As controversial as they come, Antonio Brown was a polarizing figure during his tenure in the NFL. However, during his 12-year NFL career, he was one of the best wide receivers in the league, earning five All-Pro and seven Pro Bowl selections.
A Super Bowl Champion, two-time receptions and receiving yards leader, and a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, Brown was one of one from the moment he entered the league. And Mina Kimes believes that is the superstardom that awaits Travis Hunter.
Speaking on her podcast, “The Mina Kimes Show,” Kimes broke down the tape for Hunter, correcting her earlier assumption of having him play corner in the league.
“At the Combine, I said I would make him a corner. He’s gonna be an All-Pro as a corner and it’s easier to play cornerback and mix in some receiver. Having gone back and really just watched him as a receiver, my official Travis Hunter take is: It doesn’t effing matter.”
For the Buffaloes, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner lined up for over 84% of the team’s total snaps. On offense, he had 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding 35 total tackles and four interceptions on defense.
“To my eye, he is very clearly the best receiver in this draft.”
To explain her projection, she first made a basketball comparison to one of the greatest scorers of all time, Kevin Durant. “There’s a thing in basketball where when Kevin Durant takes a mid-range, I’m surprised when it doesn’t go in.
“That’s how I feel about watching Travis Hunter catch the football. When he doesn’t catch it, I’m surprised.”
In particular, his ability to absorb hits really stands out to Kimes. “Every single play, it’s almost like a little mini John Wick movie where he catches the ball and the first guy goes flying by him and then other bad guys are running behind him.”
In the end, it’s one trait that separates him from everyone else in the pack. “His athleticism. Because he has such a unique physical ability to stay on his feet, stop, start, move forward, and then accelerate after the fact, he just makes defensive players look stupid because he is such a unique athlete.”
That’s when Benjamin Solak chimed in, drawing the comparison to the former Pittsburgh Steeler. “Hunter’s stop-start ability is out of this world. The receiver who he reminds me of, in terms of that movement skill, is Antonio Brown.”
Or, the other name Solak had in mind was arguably the best wide receiver currently in the league, Justin Jefferson. The latest mock draft from PFSN’ Brentley Weissman has Hunter going second overall to the Cleveland Browns. If he can bring a Brown or Jefferson-type career with him, Cleveland is going to be a very happy franchise.