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Travis Hunter

WR Will Be Travis Hunter’s Primary Position; Latest On Jaguars’ Trade-Up Move

April 25th, 2025 at 10:26am CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Jaguars provided a shocker early in the draft by trading up for Travis Hunter, they had worked out terms of this swap with the Browns weeks ago. Ownership involvement became necessary, but The Athletic’s Michael Silver reports GMs James Gladstone and Andrew Berry agreed to the swap for No. 2 overall April 7.

Rumblings surfaced about a deal midway through the week, gaining steam as draft day progressed, but Gladstone initially approached fellow Jags bigwigs — HC Liam Coen and Hall of Fame tackle-turned-exec Tony Boselli — about trading up. Shad Khan then signed off on the move, which cost the Jags their second-rounder and 2026 first. The sides agreed, per Silver, on the trade only on the condition the Titans began the draft with Cam Ward, explaining why the Browns needed to go on the clock before the deal became official.

The trade helps arm the Browns with a key future asset, in the event they do not land their quarterback of the future Friday night. Hunter, meanwhile, will head to Jacksonville — after it had been assumed for weeks he would be Cleveland-bound. At least one other team discussed No. 2 overall with the Browns, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. We heard this week the Raiders connected to trading up from No. 6, though a stealth suitor may well have been in the mix along with the Jags.

“We had a pretty good idea for probably the last couple of weeks that this was going to likely come to fruition,” Gladstone said, via ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco. “Obviously, you never know until it actually does in fact take place, but we’re certainly happy that it did.”

Berry confirmed (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) the 2026 quarterback class was “tangentially related” to this exchange. The Browns still have Deshaun Watson‘s albatross contract on their books through 2026, and although an insurance measure on the QB’s sunk-cost contract could provide notable cap relief, Cleveland will face a dead money record — thanks to four restructures on the deal — if it releases Watson next year. They will have some prime opportunities, beginning tonight, to add premium rookie-scale assets.

As for the Jaguars’ plans, Gladstone said they will begin Hunter at wide receiver. Berry had said, when it looked like the Browns would draft Hunter, he would play receiver in Cleveland. But Boselli made clear (via Silver) the team has designs on capitalizing on Hunter’s two-way skillset. Surpassing 700 snaps on both offense and defense last season, Hunter offers the Jags a player who should immediately upgrade their passing attack alongside Brian Thomas Jr. while also eventually providing help at cornerback when paired with Tyson Campbell.

A Florida State recruit who flipped to Jackson State in 2022, Hunter followed Deion Sanders to Colorado last year. After a 721-yard receiving season in his Buffaloes debut — an injury-shortened, nine-game year — the 6-foot-1 weapon posted 1,258 receiving yards and totaled 16 touchdowns during a Heisman-winning 2024 slate. The Jags, who moved on from Christian Kirk and Evan Engram this offseason, will now pair Thomas and Hunter’s rookie contracts with Trevor Lawrence‘s $55MM-per-year deal. The Jags will have this package secured at a rookie-deal rate through 2028, with a fifth-year option in place to move the deal through decade’s end.

This trade-up effort partially explains why the Jaguars did not conduct “30” visits, and Hunter said during the draft he only spoke with the Jags at the Combine. A “30” visit with Hunter would have tripped some alarms, and while it is still interesting Jacksonville’s new regime passed on these key meetings altogether, the club made probably the splashiest move in its 31-draft history by obtaining Hunter via this trade-up.

The deal represents an obvious swing for Gladstone, a 34-year-old exec hired after Khan backtracked on retaining Trent Baalke. The Jags had kept the embattled GM on to run their coaching search, one that had sputtered after Coen initially turned down a second interview. Gladstone is working alongside the empowered HC, but it appears he drove the bus on this trade. For the foreseeable future, the ex-Rams staffer will be judged on how it works out.

Meanwhile, Berry’s tenure — the Browns’ two playoff berths notwithstanding — is defined by the Watson miss. Jimmy Haslam has stuck with his GM, representing a course change from the owner’s early years in charge, but Berry added a notable legacy point Thursday night by passing on Hunter, whom he had likened to MLB all-time great Shohei Ohtani. The Browns will attempt to make their draft haul count, as they still consider a quarterback move to move the Watson saga toward its conclusion.

“We obviously had a strong affinity for Travis, no different than we had strong affinity for a number of players at the top,” Berry said, via Cabot. “I think the thing for us is there are a lot of good players in every class, and as much as we liked Travis or Abdul (Carter) or Ashton Jeanty, or whoever that may be, the opportunity still to get a premier prospect and add significantly to our resources, which gives us added flexibility to build the team, we felt like it was an opportunity that made sense.”

Jaguars Acquire No. 2 Pick, Select WR/CB Travis Hunter

April 24th, 2025 at 11:20pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars are making major moves up the draft board. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Jacksonville has acquired the No. 2 pick from the Browns. The Jaguars are using that second overall selection on Colorado’s Travis Hunter.

Full details of the trade:

Jaguars acquire:

  • 2025 first-round pick (No. 2)
  • 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 104)
  • 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 200)

Browns acquire:

  • 2025 first-round pick (No. 5)
  • 2025 second-round pick (No. 36)
  • 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 126)
  • Browns 2026 first-round pick

It’s a stunning development, although not completely unfounded. We heard earlier today that the Jaguars were sniffing around at a trade up the draft board, with their sights set on Hunter. There were occasional rumblings that the Browns would consider moving back, but it was assumed they’d stay put and select one of the draft’s few blue chip prospects.

Cleveland was a popular potential landing spot for Hunter, but instead the two-way threat will suddenly land in Jacksonville. The Heisman winner has remained insistent that he aims to continue playing at both receiver and cornerback as a pro. Hunter also indicated that teams were receptive to that idea, stating that the concept of playing on offense and defense in the NFL has not been an issue for the teams he has spoken with.

The Jaguars are coming off a disappointing season that led to sweeping changes in leadership. Liam Coen has been brought in as head coach, with ex-Rams exec James Gladstone guiding the front office. That duo is making an immediate swing that they’re hoping will turn around the fortunes of the organization.

On offense, Hunter would provide Trevor Lawrence with another dynamic option. 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas was a hit, as the wideout finished his rookie campaign with 1,330 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. Hunter and Thomas will form perhaps the best young receiver duo in the NFL, and there’s a belief the 2025 second-overall pick will ultimately settle into an offensive role.

The team may not feel as much urgency to use the rookie on the defensive side of the ball, although Hunter is also considered an elite prospect at cornerback. He split snaps nearly evenly during his Heisman-winning 2024 season. The team returns their top three CBs from 2024 (Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, Montaric Brown) and they added Jourdan Lewis in free agency. That could allow Hunter to serve in a rotational role as he juggles playing both sides of the ball as a professional.

Hunter was considered one of the draft’s elite prospects following his headline-grabbing 2024 campaign. The Colorado star finished the season with 1,263 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns, and he added another 36 tackles and four interceptions on defense. He beat out Ashton Jeanty narrowly for the Heisman and had been earmarked for the No. 2 draft slot for weeks.

After making a pre-draft trade with Houston involving Day 3 picks — including a fifth-rounder this year — Cleveland will now land the fifth overall pick, plus an early second and a future first. The Browns were often connected to Hunter or Abdul Carter, and it was expected that they’d resist trade inquiries and opt for the blue chip prospect. Instead, the Browns will turn to the second tier of draft options.

Browns Still Fielding Calls For No. 2; Jaguars Interested In Trading Up

April 24th, 2025 at 3:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:33pm: Andrew Berry has listened to offers, and Russini adds that many around the league believe the sixth-year Browns GM would be willing to slide down a few spots. This would line up with the Jaguars’ No. 5 draft slot, and it will be interesting to learn what kind of offer the AFC South team has made. Again, it will likely take a significant trade package to move the Browns off Hunter, but this storyline is not dying down as the draft nears.

1:23pm: Many moving parts exist for the Browns in this draft. They are not believed to view the available quarterbacks — assuming the Titans start the draft with Cam Ward, as they are expected to — as worth the No. 2 overall pick, which has prompted looks into coming back into Round 1 to address that spot. But other options may still be in play.

Cleveland is still having conversations about sliding down from No. 2 overall, with Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz classifying these as genuine rather than mere check-ins from teams. As the draft nears, we are moving past the check-in stage. The Browns are still listening for a trade that would stand to move them out of the Travis Hunter/Abdul Carter draft sector.

Hunter is viewed as the clubhouse leader to go second overall, even though Carter-to-Cleveland rumblings have emerged at multiple points this spring, and the Browns are still more likely than not to draft the Heisman winner at No. 2. A Wednesday report indicated the Browns would be “foolish” to not listen to offers, however, as the team is in need at the game’s premier position. The Browns adding significant ammo by dealing No. 2 could arm them for a QB trade-up this year or next; a year out, the 2026 passer class is believed to be stronger, though moving parts exist there as well.

The Browns have also still been tied to Kirk Cousins, a former Kevin Stefanski pupil who will not waive his no-trade clause before the draft, and he could conceivably be added as a stopgap. Though, Joe Flacco already coming in for that role would stand to diminish Cleveland’s interest in a Cousins-Stefanski reunion. If the Browns exit this draft with a plan to regroup in 2026 at QB, however, Cousins would stand to be back on the table — if the Falcons can convince the AFC North club to pay some of the aging arm’s 2025 salary.

As for who could come up for this pick, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Jaguars have expressed interest in moving up. They join the Raiders in that regard. Hunter is believed to be the player teams are aiming for with these trade-up inquiries, and Russini confirms an offensive player is on Jacksonville’s radar.

The Jags have now been closely tied to Ashton Jeanty at No. 5. They are unlikely to need a trade-up move to acquire the Boise State dynamo, but they certainly will to add Hunter. The Browns prefer Hunter at receiver, while the Titans and Giants have identified him as a corner first. The Jags’ stance is unclear — perhaps by design, as the team clouded its draft board by not conducting any “30” visits this year.

During a Rich Eisen Show appearance, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport did not view the No. 2 pick as off-limits, either. Interest still exists in the pick, and the Jags should be considered on the radar. Though, the Browns likely would charge a premium to pass on Hunter. Jags-Tetairoa McMillan connections have surfaced; Hunter would provide a flashier upgrade at receiver. While Hunter still appears Cleveland-bound, a blockbuster that makes him the centerpiece of a new Jacksonville regime’s offseason is not out of the question entirely.

Browns, Giants, Patriots Receiving Calls About 2nd, 3rd Picks; Titans Staying Put

April 23rd, 2025 at 3:45pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

APRIL 23: Teams interested in the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 picks, with the Patriots also receiving calls, are interested in Hunter, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes. While the Browns view it as “foolish” not to listen to offers for their No. 3 choice, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds that the expectation remains Cleveland will go with the Colorado superstar.

Hunter-to-Cleveland buzz picked up around the Heisman winner’s pro day earlier this month, with Fowler indicating the two-way phenom opted to run routes at the showcase event in part because it would satisfy the Browns. Cleveland views Hunter primarily as a receiver, and while he still wants to play both ways, other teams — the Giants and Titans among them — have pegged Hunter as a cornerback first. Deciding to run routes with an aim to impress Browns brass, after Carter-to-Cleveland rumors had circulated, certainly represents a sign Hunter will be Ohio-bound Thursday.

APRIL 22: The Browns and Giants are both receiving trade interest for the Nos. 2 and 3 selections in Thursday’s draft, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager.

The months-long pre-draft process has yielded a consensus expectation that Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter will be the first three picks, likely in that order. Ward is a virtual lock to be taken by the Titans with the first pick, and Hunter has gained steam as a potential Brown over the last few weeks. That would clear the way for Carter – considered by many to be the best player in the class – falling to the Giants at 3.

However, a last-minute trade involving a top-three pick would be a major last-minute shake-up to the top 10, and potentially beyond.

Such a trade would not involve the Titans, who have listened to offers over the last few months but never seriously entertained moving the draft’s top pick. General manager Mike Borgonzi confirmed that the team rebuffed trade interest and decided on their preferred target.

“We’ve come to a consensus, the entire organization, to stay at that pick,” said Borgonzi (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer).

That has pushed teams who want to move up to inquire with the Browns and the Giants about the availability of their picks. Targeted players in a trade-up would be Hunter, Carter, and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, per Schrager.

It’s also worth noting that trade chatter picks up the week of the draft almost every year, as noted by The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. 49ers general manager John Lynch is not expecting many trades early in the draft because multiple teams want to trade down and target a deep class, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen said last week that he had received calls about the No. 3 selection, but indicated that the team would stick and pick instead. But, after spending plenty of draft capital to acquire starting edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants could still prefer to trade down instead of taking Carter. That would allow them to get a top quarterback prospect – potentially Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post – at a better value while adding more picks, either in this year’s draft or the future.

Draft Rumors: Hunter, Sanders, Banks

April 20th, 2025 at 8:36pm CST by Ely Allen

With the 2025 NFL Draft just four days out, the Browns are increasingly expected to select Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the second overall pick in the first round. Several sources have told FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano that Cleveland will take the multi-positional talent at No. 2 overall, clearing the path for Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter to land with the Giants.

The Hunter-to-Cleveland steam has been building over the last few weeks, especially following comments from general manager Andrew Berry indicating the team’s willingness to play Hunter on both sides of the ball. The reigning Heisman has repeatedly expressed his desire to continue his two-way exploits in the NFL, even saying he would consider sitting out if he’s only permitted to play one position.

It seems, though, that Hunter can avoid that potential outcome in Cleveland, and the closer we get to Thursday, the more likely that outcome is to occur.

Here are a few other draft rumors from around the NFL:

  • Hunter’s teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, has been one of the draft’s most polarizing prospects in the last few months. According to ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler, some scouts believe Sanders’ head coach at Colorado and father, NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, is contributing to the wide range of evaluations. Typically, when scouts or position coaches visit a university to either watch tape or conduct a workout with a prospect, they will visit with a staff member, usually a head strength coach or NFL liaison to elicit some frank and honest information about the prospect. Some believe that Deion being the father of Shedeur and the superior of these employees has created a conflict wherein NFL personnel have had difficulty getting an understanding of who Shedeur is because of Deion’s influence.
  • After missing half of his junior year after undergoing hip surgery, Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison did not participate in drills and workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine or the Fighting Irish’s pro day. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, though, Morrison will conduct “a positional workout for teams on Monday” at his former high school in Arizona. Morrison currently grades as a potential Day 2 pick, and his father, former Washington safety Darryl Morrison, is currently the team chaplain for the Cardinals.
  • Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. has been a popular prospect leading up to the first-round of the draft. We noted a visit for Banks two weeks ago with the Falcons, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 updated his visit list to include the Panthers, Patriots, Cardinals, Cowboys, Raiders, and 49ers. He adds that the Texans spoke with Banks at his pro day in Austin, as well.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

Andrew Berry: Browns Undecided On No. 2 Pick, Team Still Views Travis Hunter As WR

April 17th, 2025 at 10:33am CST by Adam La Rose

It remains universally assumed Cam Ward will hear his name called first in next week’s draft. Once the Titans have opened the event with the addition of a new quarterback, the Browns will face an interesting decision.

Cleveland will have the option of adding Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick. Other options have not been ruled out, but at this point it would come as a surprise if another prospect was taken in the absence of a move down the board. When speaking to the media on Thursday, general manager Andrew Berry said (via TheLandOnDemand’s Tony Grossi) a final decision has not yet been made regarding the Browns’ top choice.

During the pre-draft process, the team has been linked to both Carter and Hunter. At this point, it remains to be seen which way the Browns are leaning, and their decision will of course be key for the Giants at No. 3. In the event Hunter winds up heading to Cleveland, it will be interesting to see how he is used. Questions have lingered about his role at the NFL level, with opinions being split amongst teams at the top of the order. Berry confirmed the Browns’ view on that front during his pre-draft presser.

“We wouldn’t put a cap or a governor in terms of what he could do,” Berry said when asked about Hunter (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). “We would see his first home at receiver and his second home on the defensive side of the ball.”

Hunter remains confident in his ability to handle full-time receiver and cornerback duties as a pro, and he has publicly stated a willingness to not play for his next team if he does not receive the opportunity to do so. Notably, the Heisman winner has also said the teams he has met with have not been averse to playing him on both sides of the ball. That includes the Browns, whose plan has clearly remained consistent throughout the pre-draft process.

Cleveland has Jerry Jeudy atop the receiver depth chart for 2025 and beyond, but Hunter could step into a regular role on offense right away. The Browns’ cornerback setup includes the well-established trio of Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome, although the latter’s future remains a talking point as he prepares to play out his fifth-year option in 2025. A part-time workload on defense could be more challenging to carve out without an injury in the secondary, but the Browns would be open to exploring it based on Berry’s comments. The possibility of Hunter landing in Cleveland will remain a major storyline as the countdown to the draft continues.

Abdul Carter Still In Play For Browns At No. 2 Overall?

April 16th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

If/once the Titans start the draft with Cam Ward, as they are widely expected to, the Browns will have this year’s top two overall prospects from which to choose. Cleveland-Travis Hunter links have been strong for a bit now, but it does not appear the team is locked into the two-way phenom.

The Browns are still believed to be seriously considering Abdul Carter, whom Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes is “neck and neck” with Hunter to go second overall. Carter had been closely linked to the Browns in late March, but Hunter buzz had seemingly overtaken that path for the Penn State edge rusher. Barely a week away from the draft, it appears the Giants may still have hope Hunter falls to No. 3, as one Pauline source was “adamant” the Browns are leaning Carter.

The top prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Carter is not expected to fall past the Giants if the Browns pass. Although the Giants have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the team made similar value plays — drafting Mathias Kiwanuka (2006) and Jason Pierre-Paul (2010) despite deep edge arsenals — during John Mara‘s ownership tenure. Carter would qualify as a higher-profile move, as neither Kiwanuka nor JPP were top-10 picks. But the Giants would seemingly prefer Hunter, who plays position(s) where the team is weaker.

Conversely, the Browns remain in need of a Myles Garrett complementary piece. The team just gave Garrett a defender-record $40MM-per-year extension to squash his trade push; having Carter at a rookie-scale rate would certainly help. Then again, Hunter’s unique skillset could be too much to overlook at No. 2. Carter’s medical sheet will play a key role here, but the Browns have certainly done their homework on the former Nittany Lion dynamo.

A foot stress reaction both kept Carter from participating in the Combine, though Hunter is healthy and joined other top prospects in passing, and Penn State’s pro day. Carter, however, is believed to be improving; surgery is not expected to be necessary, representing an important detail ahead of the draft. Medicals here are still paramount for a Carter investment, as Pauline adds clearance may be what pushes such a move past the goal line.

Browns brass dined with Carter before his pro day; this came after he visited the Cleveland facility in March. With buzz increasingly pointing both Cleveland and New York passing on filling their QB needs in the top three, the draft will likely feature Carter and Hunter following Ward off the board next week. Both players have been viewed as this draft’s top two prospects since the season ended. Considering Hunter’s unusual versatility, it would be quite interesting if the Browns passed.

The Browns viewing Carter as a pass rusher too good to pass up would remind a bit of the Texans leading off the 2014 draft by taking Jadeveon Clowney to team with a soon-to-be expensive J.J. Watt. With Clowney and Za’Darius Smith out as Garrett sidekicks, the Browns adding Carter as a higher-end successor would be one of the more important draft decisions in franchise history.

Giants Receiving Trade Calls; Team Expected To Stay At No. 3

April 16th, 2025 at 12:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll may well need a solid start to the 2025 season to retain their jobs, after John Mara alluded to losing patience after a 3-14 season. The Giants need a long-term quarterback answer, after Daniel Jones failed on a long runway, but their decision to pass on three first-round QBs last year looms large now.

The Giants are not expected to draft a QB at No. 3, and teams may have New York’s QB situation in mind when making trade calls. Schoen confirmed (via Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano) he has received calls about No. 3 overall. Pointing to the Giants staying at 3, Schoen said the team likes who will be there by that point in the draft.

[RELATED: Tension Growing Between Schoen, Daboll?]

Expected to have either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter on the board at that spot, the Giants are almost certain to take whichever player the Browns do not. This scenario involves the Titans making their long-rumored Cam Ward pick at No. 1. The Giants would need to be creative if they added Carter, as the team already rosters Brian Burns‘ upper-market contract and former No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux. While the Giants have a history of adding edge players when the area was already deep (via the Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul picks), neither player was chosen near the juncture Carter would be; Kiwanuka went 32nd in 2006, JPP 15th in ’10.

This situation has likely come up in trade calls, too, as the Giants could auction the pick for teams eyeing Carter — if the Browns take Hunter. Schoen would not hesitate on Carter, despite the presences of lofty EDGE investments, and he would not stand in the way of Hunter playing both ways.

The Giants have straddled the line on Hunter’s best position, initially viewing him as a better cornerback before also being open to the Heisman winner at receiver. Schoen said (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) the team would let Hunter play both ways, as he has “proven he can do it.” This would be an extraordinary step in the modern game. Schoen would presumably want Hunter to concentrate on one position while mixing in elsewhere, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan adds, noting CB would likely be the team’s first choice. Schoen added the team “likes” its secondary already.

One of these players heading to the Big Apple would ramp up the pressure for the team to tab a long-term QB soon after, though Schoen at least paid lip service to the Giants’ Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston signings not mandating (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan) the team draft another option. Tommy DeVito remains on the team as well.

That said, the Giants have again done extensive QB work. The effort will conclude this week with Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough workouts. These will all come after the team conducted “30” visits with these passers. Jaxson Dart would also loom as a potential option in a scenario featuring a trade back into Round 1. Dart is not expected to be on the board when the Giants’ second-round pick (No. 34) goes on the clock. Both Dart and Sanders bring murky draft statuses, though, complicating a path that will begin with Hunter or Carter going at No. 3.

“If the value matches up with what we have on a player. (But) I’m not going to force it if it’s not the right value,” Schoen said (via Vacchiano). “If the board lines up when we’re on the clock, we’ll go with it. I’m not going to be backed into a corner on that.”

While it would surprise if the Giants left this draft without a quarterback, the team could technically field a Wilson-Winston-DeVito depth chart. That would not qualify as one of the NFL’s better QB trios, but it is an option if Schoen and Co. want to load up on position players to strengthen the roster around Wilson.

The team does want to come out of this draft with a quarterback, Vacchiano adds, but it does not love the class enough to mandate such a move. Although the Giants hold Ward in high regard, their late-season upset over the Colts scuttled that route.

Mara will not travel to Boulder, Schoen added, for Sanders’ workout. We heard recently that an owner becoming involved may be a way for Sanders to come off the board in Round 1. With Schoen not assured of being back in 2026, Mara’s voice may be important early in this draft. The Giants made a rather notable trade-up for a quarterback 21 years ago, agreeing to the post-selection swap for Eli Manning. Any move in this draft would not approach that decision’s stature, but the Giants would face franchise-defining questions at the position if they left this draft without a post-2025 plan at the position.

Travis Hunter: Teams Open To Two-Way Role

April 15th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

One of the top storylines in the 2025 draft remains Travis Hunter‘s landing spot and the way in which he will be used at the NFL level. The Heisman winner has remained insistent, to no surprise, that he aims to continue playing at both receiver and cornerback as a pro.

During the pre-draft process, a key talking point for teams near the top of the first-round order has been the matter of where Hunter should play (at least, primarily) in the NFL. Opinions have been split along the way, and that remains the case to this day. In his most recent comments on the matter, Hunter doubled down on his goal of playing both ways.

In an interview with CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, the Chuck Bednarik and Fred Biletnikoff winner (awarded respectively to the top defender and receiver in the country) said the concept of playing on offense and defense in the NFL has not been an issue for the teams he has spoken with. That will need to remain the case once Hunter is drafted, given his added comments that he would consider not suiting up if a team attempted to only use him at one position.

“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter said of his reaction in that hypothetical situation. “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.”

During Colorado’s Pro Day, Hunter – who did not participate in drills at the Combine, like many other top prospects – worked exclusively as a receiver. He is nevertheless seen in some circles as a cornerback, and how teams plan to use him will remain a key factor in determining his destination. The Browns (set to select second overall) and Giants (third) loom as his likeliest landing spots.

To no surprise, Hunter is among the prospects who will be in attendance for the first round of the draft. He will not need to wait long to hear his name called, but intrigue over his workload will persist throughout the build-up to his rookie campaign.

NFL Announces 17 Prospects Attending NFL Draft

April 14th, 2025 at 6:30pm CST by Ben Levine

There will be 17 draft prospects waiting in the green room to hear their name announced next week. The NFL announced the players who will attend the first round next Thursday night in Green Bay:

When players commit to attending the first round of the draft, their respective camps have often been given some kind of assurance that they’ll be selected within the top-32 picks. Of course, that’s not a prerequisite, and as we’ve seen many times, there are some overly-confident prospects who subsequently endure the very-public waiting game.

Per usual, the most notable inclusions surround the QB position. Cam Ward is the favorite to go first-overall, and Shedeur Sanders (who is absent from this list) is also expected to be selected at some point in the first round. After that, the position is pretty uncertain, and that could lead to some awkward moments for the other QBs who decided to attend.

Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe have firmly established themselves in that next tier of QB prospects, and recent reports have indicated that they should be at least Day 2 picks. There haven’t been any definitive reports about their Day 1 candidacy, and while we shouldn’t read too much into the list of attendees, it is notable that both prospects believe they have a shot of going in the top-32 selections.

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