Shortly after Colorado’s Pro Day, Travis Hunter was asked how he wanted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to announce his name on draft night. His answer was simple and direct.
“He better say wide receiver and DB,” Hunter said.
That statement echoed what both Hunter and his college coach, Deion Sanders, have consistently made clear: they want him playing both ways in the NFL, just as he did at Colorado. But the reality of that dream seems far-fetched in today’s league.
In a perfect world, Hunter would be able to line up on every down at both wide receiver and cornerback, maybe even return kicks, just like he did in college. But that world isn’t the NFL. And that’s exactly why USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer called Hunter an “unusual puzzle to solve right now.”
“What exactly do you do with him?” Schrotenboer asked. “Do you seriously consider letting him play almost every single snap on both offense and defense? That’s what he wants. And that’s what he did in college at Colorado. But this is the NFL, where old norms die hard and unnecessary risks are mostly avoided.
“Is an NFL team really going to increase the injury risk on its $40-million investment by letting him play that many plays and do what other NFL players almost never do?”
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Hunter played a staggering 1,483 snaps last season across offense, defense, and special teams—while only playing 13 games. Translating that kind of workload to a 17-game NFL schedule seems nearly impossible, no matter how badly Hunter or Sanders want it.
As the draft nears on April 24, teams in the top five will have to weigh this decision carefully. Can they tap into Hunter’s full potential without overextending him?
“That’s my fear… that they don’t know what to do with him in the National Football League,” former NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart said. “You saw what I went through.”
Hunter is a rare prospect and a sure-fire top-five talent. But teams must figure out how to turn his unique skillset into consistent, sustainable production at the next level—without putting their investment at unnecessary risk.