Patriots, Jaguars best landing spots

For the first time since 2011, a defensive back is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter is one of four players named for college football’s most prestigious award.

Hunter is Colorado’s first Heisman finalist since Rashaan Salaam in 1994, and for good reason. He was an effective two-way player for the Buffaloes this fall. He leads the Big 12 in passes defended as well as receptions and receiving touchdowns. These remarkable skills helped Colorado post its first nine-win season since 2016.

USA TODAY Sports All-Americans:Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty lead the team

OPINION:The case for Travis Hunter and the Heisman Trophy is more uncertain than it should be

Hunter is widely considered one of the top prospects in his class in the 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s what you should know about him and his potential landing spots in the NFL.

NFL STATISTICS CENTER: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Scouting report by Travis Hunter

If Hunter were a wide receiver alone, he would probably be the top prospect at that position in this class. At 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, Hunter has the ideal length and top-notch acceleration that jumps off the line. His ball skills are top notch and that is a huge advantage on both sides of the ball.

Despite playing both offense and defense this fall, Hunter doesn’t seem to tire over the course of a game. He remains a solid tackler from the cornerback position and maintains the long speed to be an outside threat as a wide receiver.

Hunter is not physically limited to man-to-man coverage. He can play in any defensive system and has some of the best ball skills at the position in years.

It’s hard to find criticism of his game. His frame is a bit slender now, but he can put on more weight at the next level to better cope with press coverage. He’s quick, but may not be the best cover slot receiver and could use improved technique overall in coverage instead of relying on his athleticism. But these are just small flaws in an incredible draft profile.

Hunter could be a Pro Bowl-caliber player at either wide receiver or cornerback. He will be an asset on both sides of the ball wherever he goes.

Who will draft Travis Hunter?

In a worst-case scenario, Hunter shouldn’t fall outside of the top three picks on draft night. Whichever team has a high pick and has established itself at the quarterback position will be happy to take Hunter.

Travis Hunter’s best NFL fits

Hunter is one of the few candidates in his class who makes an immediate impact and doesn’t need sitting time to get up to speed. He would likely be the best fit on a team that could use help at both wide receiver and cornerback, allowing him to reach his game-changing potential.

New England Patriots: Drake Maye is considered the quarterback of the future. Now he needs better weapons than Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, Hunter Henry and Kayshon Boutte. Hunter would immediately be the team’s best pass catcher and would also fit well in the secondary alongside 2023 top pick Christian Gonzalez.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Like New England, Jacksonville will have a high pick but won’t need a quarterback. The Jaguars have 2024 top pick Brian Thomas Jr. as a strong outside threat on offense. For the Jaguars, who rank last in the NFL in expected points added per pass (EPA/pass), Hunter would be in greater demand on defense. For comparison, the gap between Jacksonville at No. 32 and Atlanta at No. 31 is greater than the gap between Atlanta and Cleveland at No. 18. Ronald Darby isn’t stopping Hunter from getting into the starting lineup.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans will likely finish near the top five and may opt for Will Levis or a free agent at quarterback next season. Either way, they need help at wide receiver. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has been playing well lately, but he and Calvin Ridley are less than ideal outside weapons. Hunter would be an upgrade there and could also work at cornerback, where the Titans have relied on Darrell Baker Jr., Roger McCreary and rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. this season.
New York Jets: Entering Week 15, there is a logjam of three-win teams from pick No. 3 to No. 8 at the top of the draft order. The Jets still have games against the Rams and Bills on the schedule to close out the year in a way that allows them to finish at No. 3. They could take advantage of Hunter’s talents on both sides of the ball. On offense, he was able to work on the outside against Garrett Wilson. On defense, he would help mitigate the potential loss of cornerback DJ Reed in free agency.

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Patriots, Jaguars best landing spots

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