5 ideal landing spots for Travis Hunter at 2025 NFL Draft
The winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy is a top prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft but here are the most realistic teams for him to land up on.
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Travis Hunter (Image via Colorado Athletics)
In the NFL’s 100-year history, there have been 1000s of players drafted from college; all of whom have had potential and talent. But once every few years, there comes a unicorn, a prospect with a unique skillset that is deemed generational. In the 2025 NFL Draft, that prospect is none other than Travis Hunter.
The star player of the Colorado Buffaloes has set records that never existed and nearly swept every award a football player could win at the college level. He went on to win the Heisman Trophy as well because of his ability to play wide receiver and corner at an elite level. Travis Hunter is bound to be a top pick in the 2025 draft but the more important question is where will he land up in the NFL?
While the draft order continues to fluctuate based on the performance of teams, it is fair to expect the New York Giants, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cleveland Browns to have the first 5 picks. Based on the position needs of these teams, the Giants will draft a quarterback, but the other teams can all use Hunter and his skillset. Here is the detailed list of realistic spots for Travis Hunter to land up in.
5 NFL teams that can use Travis Hunter on their roster
- New England Patriots, Projected Pick (2nd Overall)
Through 16 weeks, the Patriots have won just 3 games, it has been yet another disappointing season for them. While they have found a reliable quarterback in Drake Maye, New England needs a star at wide receiver on its offense and a corner on defense.
Travis Hunter fits right into the requirements of the team. He has made it clear that he intends to play both positions in the NFL and the Patriots are an organization where the culture and environment will allow him to grow and hone his skills better. Besides, he can have an immediate impact in Foxborough and give the Patriots the boost they need.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars, Projected Pick (3rd Overall)
The 3-12 Jaguars underwhelmed this season. Trevor Lawrence signed a long-term extension with the franchise but the team failed to setup necessary pieces around him who would help him thrive. Jacksonville desperately needs talent at the wide receiver position.
Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Josh Reynolds do their job but the franchise is need of an energetic player that can boost the morale and bring the excitement back into the locker room. Travis Hunter is that guy.
On the defensive side of things, the Jaguars have been terrible this year. They rank last in the NFL on total defense. They are giving up on average 390 yards per game to their opponents. With corner a positional requirement they need to fill in, the Jaguars have all the reason to go all-in on Travis Hunter.
3. Las Vegas Raiders, Projected Pick (4th Overall)
The Raiders lost key players over the last two years. With Josh Jacobs out and the departure of Davante Adams, the team has entered a semi-rebuild stage. While Vegas needs a skilled player at receiver who can fill some of the void created by Adams’ trade, the team may choose to surprise fans by drafting a quarterback.
Aidan O’Connell has not been that guy. He is a backup quarterback in the NFL but the Raiders are not going to progress with him as the starter. However, the team has not shown signs that it is prioritizing bringing a new quarterback aboard and understandably so. This year’s draft class does not have a lot of talent at the QB position.
So keeping this assumption in mind, the Raiders are likely to choose Travis Hunter instead because he fulfils their needs on offense and defense. The team will use his rookie season to figure out how to utilize him and allow him to acclimatize himself with the NFL pace. This is likely to be O’Connell’s last season to prove himself and if he does not step up then the team can rely on next year’s draft to bring a better player aboard.
4. Carolina Panthers, Projected Pick (5th overall)
For Travis Hunter’s own good, it is better if he does not land up in Carolina but with that being said, it would be the best destination for him to prove how good of a player he is. The Panthers have Bryce Young, despite his setbacks early on in the season, he is the future of that team and Xavier Legette is a talented stud.
What’s better than having one talented wideout? Having two talented wideouts. Besides, Carolina needs as much young talent as it can get and Travis Hunter playing on both sides of the ball while bettering the team will be a testament to his impact.
5. Cleveland Browns, Projected Pick (4th or 5th overall)
The Browns need a fresh face, a face with positivity especially after the team’s fanbase has begun to grow tired of quarterback Deshaun Watson and his bloated contract. Next season, Watson will be back and hopefully, he will be half as good as he was in Houston.
The departure of Amari Cooper has created a void in the team’s wide receiver room. Jerry Jeudy is the only reliable option on the team but with Travis Hunter in there, the Browns will look a lot better. Cleveland’s defense has not been that bad, their pass defense has given up 212.5 yards on average. It would mean that Travis Hunter will get a chance to play as a corner but at the same time, he will not be under pressure to impact the defensive side of the ball as much.
Hunter would be a great fit on any of these teams. Ultimately, it depends on who gets the top pick, the dual-position player can be the first overall pick if any of the aforementioned teams get the first choice. One thing is certain, Travis Hunter will thrive in any of the organizations he gets drafted into.
Related: Shedeur Sanders’ Colorado teammate almost confirms where the star QB will land next year in NFL
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Sumedh Joshi
(2195 Articles Published)