Patriots' Mike Vrabel 'Open' to Travis Hunter Playing WR, DB amid NFL Draft Rumors

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wouldn't restrict Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter to playing just one position at the NFL level if the Patriots were to draft him.

"I don’t know how anybody could say how hard it would be," Vrabel said, per Mark Daniels of MassLive.com. "We’ve never seen a player, necessarily do it. I think there’s some things he can improve on by probably concentrating on just one position. But never going to put any restrictions on Travis or any player. We try as much as they can handle. We’re going to continue to put more on their plate."

“If he were on our football team and showed great skill at one position, and started to really do well in his conditioning, and it didn’t fall and didn’t drop (off), we would be open to playing everybody we had at more than one position," he added. "Anything that would help the football team, I’d be all in favor of.”

There's a chance that Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner who thrived at cornerback and wide receiver, could still be available when the Patriots are on the clock with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Hunter isn't viewed as a full-time contributor at both positions by all 32 teams, with NFL.com's Lance Zierlein reporting on Jan. 15 that at least three front offices graded him as a "full-time cornerback who can take some snaps at WR."

The 21-year-old was stellar on both sides of the ball for the Buffaloes in 2024, hauling in 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns in 13 appearances.

He also racked up 36 tackles, 11 passes defensed, four interceptions and one forced fumble at cornerback.

The Patriots "believe" that Hunter is the best cornerback as well as the best wideout in the entire 2025 draft class, per MassLive.com's Karen Guregian, Chris Mason and Daniels.

He previously confirmed that he wants to play both positions in the NFL if his future team allows him to do so.

"I want to play 100 percent (on both sides), but it's up to the organization," Hunter said at the scouting combine, via NFL.com's Eric Edholm.

He'd be an intriguing option for New England if he were to hear his name called at No. 4 overall, potentially operating alongside free-agent addition Stefon Diggs at wideout as well as standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez in the team's secondary.

There's a chance that Hunter may not be available, though. He was projected to head to the New York Giants with the No. 3 pick in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

Still, Vrabel is open to utilizing him at multiple positions if he becomes a Patriot.