The Colorado Buffaloes have never had a player selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. Travis Hunter could change that.
The Heisman Trophy winner is widely expected to go off the board early in the draft, but some draft analysts have him penciled in as the top pick.
Here’s a look at where national draftniks think Hunter will land in the draft.
ESPN | Field Yates | Updated Feb. 11
No. 1 to the Titans: “The Titans have made it clear they won’t force the quarterback issue at No. 1 if they don’t deem one of the passers worthy of the pick. Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders will be in the mix here, given Will Levis’ struggles, but Tennessee could go another direction. And that opens the door for a spirited debate in picking between Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.
“While there is little precedent for a prospect playing both sides of the ball in the NFL, Hunter has a rare skill set. Scouts have noted his determination and focus as reasons why he was able to play an astounding 1,458 snaps this past season. The Titans need help at both WR and CB, and Hunter — whom I’m ranking at corner right now — could boost either spot. He caught 15 touchdown passes and had four interceptions in 2024.” See the full mock draft.
Pro Football Focus | Jordan Plocher | Updated Feb. 17
No. 1 to the Titans: “When selecting first overall, a team’s top priority should be securing a player who delivers on that investment with high-level production. Reaching for positional value or banking on height/weight/speed outliers can lead to disappointment. The Titans avoid that risk by making the smartest move possible–selecting the best player in the draft class, Travis Hunter, with the No. 1 pick.” See the full mock draft.
Yahoo! Sports | Nate Tice | Updated Feb. 11
No. 1 to the Titans: “The Titans said they want a ‘generational’ talent at the top of the draft, though Cam Ward would still make sense if they decide to move on from Will Levis. There’s also the possibility of adding more firepower to their defensive front with Abdul Carter, or a trade (a long-term right tackle would sure be nice). Really whatever adventure the Titans choose makes sense at the top of a wide open class. Hunter is a dynamic talent at cornerback, with even more to tap into. He would bring starpower to Tennessee’s defense and help bolster the offense in a small role, too.” See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Daniel Jeremiah | Updated Feb. 18
No. 3 to the Giants: “The Giants do their best to make up for letting Saquon Barkley walk in free agency last year by adding a dynamic two-way player in Hunter.” See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Dan Parr | Updated Feb. 13
No. 3 to the Giants: Can the Giants pull off a blockbuster swap for Matthew Stafford? If the G-Men decide to go the trade or free agency route to find their next QB and manage to keep the No. 3 pick, they could find themselves able to land the Heisman Trophy winner, too, who could help them on both sides of the ball.” See the full mock draft.
Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | Updated Feb. 10
No. 3 to the Giants: “The Giants need to consider quarterback early, but it will also be difficult to ignore that Hunter may fall right into their lap to be an instant ball-hawking defensive star in New York while also giving Malik Nabers some receiving help at times.” See the full mock draft.
CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | Updated Feb. 12
No. 4 to the Patriots: “While Will Campbell would be sensible as a building block — pun intended — for Drake Maye, the Patriots feel better about landing suitable offensive linemen later in the draft and can’t pass on the supremely gifted Hunter here. They also need more dynamic playmakers on the roster.” See the full mock draft.
CBS Sports | Ryan Wilson | Updated Feb. 10
No. 6 to the Raiders: “Hunter is the best athlete — and the best player — in this draft class. We’ve had otherworldly cornerbacks and wide receivers in previous classes but he’s a two-fer, able to dominate on both sides of the ball and take over games. The big question where will the team that drafts him want him to play. And if it’s, say, at cornerback, how big will be the package of offensive plays for Hunter. Because lining up for 120 snaps a game, like he’s done for the Buffs, isn’t sustainable in the NFL.” See the full mock draft.
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