The New England Patriots’ 2024 season wasn’t much to write home about. They finished dead last in the AFC East with just four wins through the regular season. They have their work cut out for them this offseason, as they are looking to surround their potential franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, with the talent he needs to succeed.
Maye was the only positive sign in the Patriots’ young team last season, and one PFSN analyst predicts they will continue to build for the future, selecting Colorado’s Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Patriots To Select Travis Hunter If He Agrees To Play as 2-Way Player
Hunter was easily the most exciting player in college football in the last two seasons. The true junior won multiple awards in 2024 while playing both ways at receiver and cornerback. His accolades include the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Award, the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver), and the Bednarik Award (best defensive player).
Playing both ways takes an extreme toll on a player’s body, so professionals tend to stick to one side, with cameo appearances on the other side when needed. Whoever drafts Hunter will ultimately decide where he plays, but he’s shown his body can handle double duty, averaging a whopping 113 snaps a game in 2024.
PFSN’s Ben Rolfe thinks Hunter’s two-way playing style will serve the best to the Patriots, who ranked 30th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric and 26th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last year. Rolfe predicts New England will use the No. 4 pick on the 21-year-old, writing, “Many considered New England’s receiving group to be the worst in the NFL, and Drake Maye deserves much credit for finishing 17th in pass success rate (44.9%) and 22nd in EPA per dropback (-0.03).
“Hunter would be an immediate upgrade for that group and provide Maye with a legitimate playmaker.
“On defense, the Patriots ranked 23rd in pass success rate (53.2%) and 29th in EPA per dropback (-0.14). Much of that was due to an ineffective pass rush, but the Patriots need more depth in their secondary. Jonathan Jones is a free agent this year, and the options behind him on the depth chart leave much to be desired opposite Christian Gonzalez.
“Hunter could fill both of those needs, and the Patriots have the opportunity to let him try in 2025. No one will expect this team to challenge for the division next season, so they can have the growing pains of a potential two-way player. Even if he develops into a player who only plays certain packages on one side of the ball, having a player like that on your roster is extremely valuable.”
However, PFSN’s latest mock draft by Brentley Weissman projects the Patriots picking LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell at No. 4.
“New England could go with a playmaker here but decides to build up front in the trenches with the draft’s best offensive lineman, Will Campbell.
“Campbell is an athletic tackle who plays with an outstanding base and excellent balance. He may not be the most physically gifted blocker that we have seen go early, but he offers an extremely high floor. Campbell will go a long way in fortifying the offensive line.”
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Meanwhile, Hunter is predicted to be snapped early by the Cleveland Browns at No. 2.
“Hunter is one of the most unique players to enter the draft in decades — he legitimately is the best player at not just one position but two. The Browns will have to decide where Hunter ultimately plays, but he will be an immediate difference-maker no matter where he lines up.”
Hunter has not commented yet on which position he would play in the NFL, but if he decides to go both, the Patriots might go all in on him.
