Nothing has been the same for the Colorado Buffaloes ever since Deion Sanders brought his core of athletes to the Boulder, Colo., school from Jackson State. Among his pupils is dual-threat Travis Hunter, who has excelled as both a cornerback and a wide receiver on the gridiron.
He followed Coach Prime from Jackson, Miss., in hopes that Sanders’ mentorship would take him to unseen heights — heights that he absolutely saw by becoming Colorado’s second-ever Heisman winner and being projected as a Day 1 pick in April’s 2025 NFL Draft.
NFL Analyst Highlights How Giants Could Benefit From Drafting Travis Hunter
With the Tennesse Titans holding the top pick and in need of a quarterback, they are expected to select either Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward. The Cleveland Browns, also desperate for a QB, might take the second signal caller.
This could leave the New York Giants in a tricky position at No. 3; Giants co-owner John Mara has made it clear that the team needs a franchise quarterback, but if neither Sanders nor Ward is available, the Giants may have to turn and select the consensus-best player available, Hunter.
NFL analyst Anthony Rivery thinks the same, as he said on Jan. 12: “Is it Travis time for the Giants?”
“Picking No. 3 in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Giants might be out of range to get a quarterback if both the Titans and the Browns take Cam Ward and then Shedeur Sanders in the draft. … Travis Hunter is considered to be the best player in this draft class,” Rivery said.
“The Heisman Trophy winner could still be on the board when the Giants are on the clock and he could be their selection. … Drafting Hunter would upgrade the Giants’ secondary and give them a deadly playmaker to pair with Malik Nabers. However, drafting a quarterback will be Priority No. 1 for Big Blue.”
Do you want the Giants to draft Travis Hunter?🔥 #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/ACPdOLcDgt
— Fireside Giants (@FiresideGiants) January 12, 2025
Meanwhile, Pro Football Network’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft by Jacob Infante projects Hunter to be selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the Browns, seemingly an effective player for them as well.
Infante’s analysis of the dual-threat reads: “The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Hunter possesses high-end-starter upside at wide receiver and All-Pro upside at cornerback. I have him playing primarily on defense due to his elite ball skills in coverage and his fluidity, but he could serve as a strong complement to Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy on Cleveland’s offense, too.”
Hunter recorded 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 scores this season and also totaled 35 tackles with 11 pass offenses and four interceptions.