Colorado’s Travis Hunter is among the elite names entering the 2025 NFL Draft this April, and his NFL future is a hot topic. However, analysts are divided on whether he’ll shine more as a receiver or a cornerback.
Matt Harmon, the creator of Reception Perception and an expert at evaluating WRs, weighed in with a strong take. He compared Hunter to one wide receiver legend — Odell Beckham Jr. — explaining how the two-way star could be an immediate WR1 on certain teams.
NFL Analyst Compares Travis Hunter to WR Odell Beckham Jr.
NFL writer analyst Matt Harmon and EJ Snyder took up Hunter’s case on the latest edition of “Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.” The former suggested that many of Hunter’s traits are similar to Beckham, making him an elite wide receiver in his eyes.
“I think he’s an incredible receiver,” Harmon said. “He reminds me of, like, prime Odell Beckham. From a separation standpoint, from a contested-catch standpoint, if you get him on a quick in-breaker, he can house that bad boy. … He’s got everything I’d want in a receiver. Harmon added on, naming the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots as two suitable options.
"He's like prime Odell Beckham to me."@MattHarmon_BYB and @FootballEJ believe Travis Hunter could be the WR1 right away for the Titans and Patriots 👀
(via Yahoo Fantasy Forecast) pic.twitter.com/UIWNvjMqeh
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) February 28, 2025
Despite attending the NFL Scouting Combine as both a cornerback and a receiver, Hunter’s offensive production at Colorado speaks for itself. Some teams see him as a high-upside receiver, while others believe his future is on defense.
Hunter Wishes To Continue Playing on Both Sides of the Ball
The Colorado star, who stunned college football with his rare ability to dominate as both a wide receiver and cornerback, has made it clear that he wants to play both ways at the next level.
“They say nobody has ever done it the way I do it, but I tell them I’m just different. I am a different person,” Hunter said at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Travis Hunter wants to play WR and CB in the league. 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ASFO5xa9Oh— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025
His numbers at Colorado back up the hype. As a receiver, he hauled 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. On defense, he racked up 36 tackles, 11 passes defended, four interceptions, and a forced fumble. His talent is undeniable, but the NFL teams are split on how to use him.
“He’s a unique prospect,” an AFC South area scout told ESPN. “He’s really good at both positions … but he can be a good wide receiver immediately. Not a true WR1 right away, but a good WR2 all day. And with his work ethic, if he wanted to, he’d be great.”
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On the defensive side, some believe Hunter could become an elite shutdown corner.
“If you watch him, all of the catches he’s given up come underneath because you’re not beating him deep,” an NFC assistant general manager said to ESPN. “Now imagine his ceiling once he really focuses on and sharpens the detail of actually playing the position and not just [playing] off of his natural ability.”
Hunter is expected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Whether he lines up on offense or defense, his versatility makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in recent memory.