What position will Hunter play in the NFL? Glazer reveals front office survey originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Colorado star Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy last weekend as college football’s most outstanding player and is No. 1 in many prospect rankings ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hunter is an unusual player. He starred as a wide receiver and cornerback for Colorado. Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a wide receiver, while also recording 21 solo tackles, 11 pass breakups and four interceptions as a cornerback.
Playing on both sides of the ball in the NFL would be extremely difficult. So, which position could he play more of as a professional?
Jay Glazer, FOX Sports NFL Expert He conducted a survey of 13 head coaches and general managers and almost all of them came to the same conclusion.
“It was overwhelmingly the cornerback,” Glazer said on FOX Sports’ pregame show Sunday. “The only general manager that would put him at wide receiver, the reason was because of his elite ball skills. Everyone else said cornerback. Why? Elite ball skills. But they said it’s very difficult to find a cornerback closed like that.
“However, everyone said that even though we would start him at cornerback, we would definitely find packages and plays for him on the offensive side of the ball.”
yesterday #FOXNFLSunday @NFLonFOXI surveyed 13 head coaches and general managers where they would play Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, 12 of 13 said he was a cornerback with packages on offense, one added he would also try him as a punt returner. The one who said WR cited elite ball skills. The… pic.twitter.com/woh317o7hX
—Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 16, 2024
The New England Patriots currently own the third pick in the 2025 draft after losing to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. If the first two picks are quarterbacks, the Patriots would have a chance to select Hunter No. 3 overall in the first round.
Two of the most glaring needs on the Patriots roster this offseason will be wide receiver and cornerback. They have to get a true number one receiver who can be a threat outside of the numbers and deep down the field. Finding another excellent cornerback to slot opposite Christian González should also be a priority. Hunter could play any of those roles in New England.
Many experts have projected Hunter goes to Patriots at No. 3 in recent mock draftsincluding ESPN’s Field Yates. Here’s what he wrote about Hunter and the Patriots in his latest mock draft released last week:
“The most electric player in his class and the highest-ranked prospect on my board, Hunter offers difference-making ability on both sides of the ball. He has rare acceleration and high-end play traits as a receiver, but I also see tight coverages . skills, including elite ball skills and instincts, as a cornerback. Consider that he is not only sixth in receiving yards (1,152) and second in touchdown receptions (14) on offense, but he also has four interceptions and 10. deflected passes on defense.
“The Patriots have a big need at left tackle, so targeting someone like Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. is at least a conversation. But once you factor in the holes at receiver and the cornerback spot opposite Christian González, Hunter is too good to pass up.”
Wide receiver and left tackle are the two most prominent positions that are often discussed when discussing what the Patriots should do in the first round of the 2025 draft. Those positions are extremely important, but given the defense’s lackluster performance of the Patriots all season, and especially in the final four games, it might make more sense for New England to target a potential defensive star like Hunter in Round 1.