Travis Hunter isn’t just entering the 2025 NFL Draft as a top prospect—he’s stepping in as a rare breed, a true two-way superstar. The Colorado standout dazzled as both a cornerback and wide receiver in college, and the big debate now? Which position he’ll lock into at the next level.
Around NFL circles, coaches, executives, and scouts are split. While some are intrigued by his versatility, many believe Hunter’s future shines brightest as a shutdown corner.
One NFL offensive coordinator put it bluntly, telling Bruce Feldman, “I think he is a defensive back wanting to play receiver, not the other way around. If he really wants to be a wide receiver, he’s got to commit to being a wide receiver.” Watching Colorado’s pro day, the coordinator noted Hunter’s flashy footwork at the line of scrimmage—moves that might work in college but could get eaten alive by NFL defenders. “You’re not gonna have time to do all of that,” he said. “His explosiveness and ball skills are what are so great about him. But walking up, man-to-man, with a guy like Jalen Ramsey over you? He’s gonna have to grow up fast.”
Still, there’s no denying Hunter’s natural gifts as a wideout. His fluidity and ball skills aren’t just good—they’re elite. It’s what makes the question of his NFL role so fascinating.
One NFL passing game coordinator even went as far as to say, “Oh my God! He could be Justin Jefferson, but he can really play corner. It’s gonna be an interesting case study because we’ve never seen this.”
That’s the real intrigue with Hunter. NFL history doesn’t offer many examples of players who genuinely thrived on both sides of the ball. Scouts and coaches agree: for the sake of longevity and development, he might be better off specializing. But Hunter? He’s not looking to choose.
In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Hunter made it clear—if a team told him to pick one position, he’d walk away from football altogether. “It’s never playing football again,” Hunter said. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it… I just feel very confident in myself, and I got a competitive spirit that I can do whatever I put my mind to, and I feel like I can do it.”
With the draft right around the corner, all eyes are on teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, who hold the second and third picks, respectively. Either franchise could be the one to take the leap on Hunter—and it sounds like the Giants, in particular, would embrace his dual-threat potential.
Giants GM Joe Schoen didn’t hide his excitement when talking about Hunter. “He’s fun to watch,” Schoen said. “It’s unique that [he has] the ball skills, the route ability, and then also the ability to go to the other side and play corner. You just don’t see that very often. A lot of times, if these guys can’t catch or they can’t play receiver, then they get moved to DB. But this guy can do it all. So, he’s also a great kid. So, it’d be hard to keep him off the field, and he’s motivated to play both ways.”
Schoen also pointed out that the Giants’ current roster situation—with three strong receivers and a solid secondary—could allow them the flexibility to experiment with Hunter’s talents on both sides of the ball. “We would not be afraid to play him on both sides of the ball,” he said.
Soon enough, we’ll find out which team takes the chance and how they plan to unleash Travis Hunter. The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday—and wherever he lands, Hunter’s journey promises to be one of the most compelling storylines in the league for years to come.
