Entering the 2024 season, Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter is one of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. Since being the top player in the nation as a high schooler, Hunter has played at a high level at Jackson State and with the Buffalos last season. Last season, Hunter had 31 tackles with three interceptions and five passes broken up on defense while catching 16 passes for 213 yards as a wide receiver. Buffalo’s head coach, Deon Sanders, said Hunter is the best cornerback and wide receiver in college football, so it will be an interesting debate about his NFL position. Speaking with sources at three teams, they were split on whether he should be a wide out or cornerback at the NFL level.
“I think he’s a cornerback,” said a former NFC general manager who has scouted Hunter. “Too many receivers already in the draft and not enough cover corners.”
“I think he’s a cornerback,” said an NFC director of player personnel. “I thought he looked more natural on defense. On offense, he feels like a gadget guy.”
Other sources disagreed. Here is how one area scout saw Hunter, “He’s a better receiver than corner right now in my opinion. Not because he’s extremely polished, just has the quickness to separate, plays more aggressive and confidently with the ball in his hands and clearly has the athleticism and stamina. He’s got good speed that shows up as a vertical threat as a receiver. He’s got good tools at cornerback and clearly the ball skills, but he’s got too much tape with free agent caliber and C class wide receivers making plays over top of him in man coverage. Majority of his picks and confidence in coverage came playing with vision on the quarterback in zone. Clearly he has the tools to be a good player at both, but I don’t see a dominant defender who scares any good college quarterback, let alone NFL caliber, in coverage right now. Talented – not dominant.”
A different area scout said he was grading Hunter as a cornerback. The debate figures to rage on in the months to come and throughout the predraft process. In my latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, I have Hunter going high to a team that could use him at both positions. It will be fascinating to see how the league responds over the 2024 season and the months to follow.
