NFL Scouts: Travis Hunter Should Focus on WR in Pros, Avoid Injury Risks at CB

Two anonymous NFL scouts believe Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter should focus on becoming a professional wide receiver in order to avoid the injury risks on the other side of the ball, according to ESPN's Matt Miller.

One AFC college scouting director told Miller that Hunter's listed stats of 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds mean he would thrive in a more protected position.

"I wouldn't want to expose him to the shoulder issues of a tackler, full-time," the AFC scout told Miller. "We're not talking about a 200- or 210-pound guy."

Another scout in the NFC West agreed, despite acknowledging Hunter's potential as a top NFL cornerback.

"I think he could be a top-five corner, but this is an offensive league, and the money is being spent on that side of the ball," the NFC scout told Miller. "I don't see why you'd ask a player with his potential to play defense and risk injury."

Hunter so far leads the Big 12 with 46 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver, while recording 16 tackles and two interceptions as a defender to help lead Colorado to a 4-1 start to the 2024 season.

That has required Hunter to play nearly every snap for the Buffaloes. He is averaging 124 snaps per game through the five weeks of the season, per TruMediaSports and Scott Procter of the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

The two-way star has repeatedly said he wants to continue playing both positions in the NFL, but many scouts don't see the 620 total snaps he has recorded through five games as sustainable at the next level.

Even beyond the injury risks inherent in playing such a high percentage of snaps, some NFL scouts believe that Hunter would benefit from focusing on one position over the other in order to develop into an elite pro player.

"You love his work ethic and his want to play every snap, but this is the NFL and not the Big 12. The starting cornerbacks at this level are really good. The starting receivers are really good," an NFC defensive backs coach told Miller. "He's a great player in college, but the time it takes to be great at one position in the NFL is massive. Focusing on two positions will ultimately hold him back from being very good at one of them."

The B/R NFL Scouting Department projects Hunter as a No. 1 pick in their latest top-10 mock of the 2025 NFL Draft. His ability to succeed as both receiver and cornerback during his third college season could continue raising his draft stock, even if whichever team drafts him plans to develop him into a single-position player in the NFL.