Travis Hunter's Preferred NFL Position Reportedly Splits Insiders Ahead of 2025 Draft

Even though Travis Hunter expects to play offense and defense in the NFL, trying to figure out which side of the ball teams prefer him on three weeks away from the 2025 draft remains a mystery.

Per ESPN's Matt Miller, Hunter's primary position in the NFL "varies team by team" based on what the bigger need on their roster might be.

In the same article, Field Yates noted teams he's talked with about Hunter lean slightly toward him having a higher ceiling at receiver than cornerback.

For example, B/R's NFL scouting department has Hunter going to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall in its most recent mock draft. The Giants already have a great No. 1 pass-catching option in Malik Nabers and decent depth behind him (Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, tight end Theo Johnson).

New York's top cornerback right now is free-agent signee Paulson Adebo, with 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks as the other starter. Hunter could easily take Banks' spot in the starting lineup and improve the secondary immediately.

In a scenario where the Giants pass on Hunter, leaving him on the board for the New England Patriots at No. 4, there's an easy argument he would be more valuable to them at wide receiver.

The signing of Stefon Diggs, who is 31 and coming off a torn ACL, doesn't totally solve New England's need for pass-catching help around Drake Maye. The Patriots also have Christian Gonzalez and free-agent signee Carlton Davis III as their top two cornerbacks.

Hunter has said he wants to keep playing 100 percent of the snaps on offense and defense, like he did at Colorado, but it seems hard to fathom an NFL team would allow him to maintain that level of volume just in the interest of preserving his body over the course of a 17-game season against better competition than he was facing in the Big 12 last year.

Yates did note the teams he has talked to all "envision at least a part time role" for Hunter on both sides of the ball.

Any team that drafts Hunter should build in packages for him on offense and defense since he has the unique ability to do that. There hasn't been a player who started an NFL game at both cornerback and wide receiver since 2012 (Antonio Cromartie).