For The Patriots The Travis Hunter Question Looms Larger Than Ever

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 8:09 AM

for the patriots the travis hunter question looms larger than ever

The Patriots spent a good chunk of change in free agency to give star cornerback Christian Gonzalez a trusty sidekick. Signing Carlton Davis to a huge deal (3 years, $60 million) and pairing him with Gonzalez, gives Mike Vrabel one of the better cornerback tandems in the league. So what happens if Travis Hunter falls to No. 4, and he’s available when the Patriots are poised to make their opening pick in the draft? Do they pass on the bluechip prospect, who is a dual threat at cornerback and receiver, because their starting corners are set? Do they draft a left tackle, instead, out of desperation, because many pundits believe Hunter should play corner in the NFL?

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches the Travis Hunter debate rages on with more intensity than ever and shows no signs of slowing down. Wide receiver or defensive back, that is the question. It’s one that’s never been posed in this manner because we’ve never seen a player of this caliber on both sides of the ball. With players like Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson, there was no doubt they were defensive backs with the ability to play some receiver. With the former Colorado Buffaloes Heisman Trophy winner, there is growing belief that he’s a better wide receiver than cornerback. The split becomes more interesting because of the positional value argument.

Defensive backs are thought to be more scarce, but wide receivers are paid more in the NFL. There’s this pressing inkling to make Hunter choose between one or the other, but what if the answer is that he’s destined to do both, just as he did in college? The debates will probably continue well into Hunter’s professional career, but who better to hear from on the matter than the man who can draft him in April? New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Hunter at the NFL meetings today and had this to say about the Colorado superstar. "I don't know how anybody could say how hard it would be. We've never seen a player necessarily do it.

I think there are some things he can improve on by concentrating on one position probably. Never going to put any restrictions on Travis or any player. As much as they can handle, we’re going to continue to put more on their plate," Vrabel said to reporters at a press conference during NFL meetings. “If he [Travis Hunter] were on our football team, and he showed a great skill at one position and started to do well and his conditioning didn’t fall off and didn’t drop, you know,... Anything that can help the football team, I would be all in favor of,” said Vrabel in closing with regards to Hunter. The New England Patriots are in dire need of an offensive playmaker, particularly at wide receiver.

With the 2025 NFL Draft fast approaching, speculation is mounting about whether they could make a move for Colorado’s two-way superstar, Travis Hunter. Many NFL teams project Hunter as a full-time defensive back at the next level, given his elite coverage skills and ball-hawking ability. However, New England may have a different perspective on the dynamic prospect. According to Karen Guregian of MassLive.com, the Patriots view Hunter as both the best defensive back and the best wide receiver in the draft class. That evaluation is significant because while New England has a well-stocked secondary, their wide receiver room remains one of the weakest in the league. The Patriots already boast a formidable cornerback duo, led by Christian Gonzalez, who has been a rare bright spot for the franchise over the past two seasons.

This offseason, they further strengthened their secondary by signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis to a three-year, $60 million deal. With those pieces in place, New England appears set in the defensive backfield for the foreseeable future. The same cannot be said for their wide receiver corps. Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter weighed in on the possibility of joining quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots. The Colorado Buffaloes star receiver/cornerback read and responded to a message from a viewer during a live stream. “‘Trav and Drake Maye?’ That would be tough," said Hunter, via Carlos Talks Pats (h/t @Sthadius12).

If the season ended today, the Patriots would own the No. 3 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, per Tankathon.com. That would put them in range of a player like Hunter. Maye and Hunter together would be a dynamic combination. They would give the Patriots' offense the spark it desperately needs. With that said, the team also needs to address the left tackle position.

The Patriots spent a good chunk of change in free agency to give star cornerback Christian Gonzalez a trusty sidekick. ...... read full story Answer for your question of the article will be displayed here ... The New England Patriots are sitting in an enviable spot heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. They hold the fourth overall pick, and—unlike the three teams in front of them—aren’t desperate for a quarterback.

That alone makes Colorado’s Travis Hunter very much in play. He’s been a dream target for New England all offseason. Hunter is the kind of generational prospect who rarely comes around. He’s not just elite at one position—he’s elite at two. In 2024 alone, he logged 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns while also locking down receivers as a top-tier cornerback. His 1,552 total snaps were the most by any player in college football.

And somehow, there was no drop-off in performance on either side of the ball. He's a hardware collector: Hunter is a two-time All-American, Heisman Trophy winner, and Biletnikoff Award winner (nation's top wide receiver). For good measure, he also won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year... so yeah, he can more than hold his own on both ends. Still, there are skeptics. Traditional evaluators question whether any player can truly succeed both ways at the NFL level.

Hunter has now answered that doubt with a not-so-subtle ultimatum. Following a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign from superstar Travis Hunter, criticism continues to roll in about where the dual-threat talent should play. Hunter has dealt with a steady stream of doubters on his journey to the NFL. While No. 12 may be confident in his ability to play both WR and CB, many around the league are not. Doubts about Hunter’s ability to handle full games at both WR and CB might be justified.

If that’s the case, where should the generational talent line up? Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has a clear opinion. Orlovsky’s comment came as Kay Adams was joined by New England Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf on her show “Up & Adams.” The man calling the shots in New England gave a... “That’s a great question,” said Wolf. “I think if he’s available, which is a huge question mark, that will be up to the coaching staff to determine where he is going to fit in and also if we would even... The doubts can pile up but won’t shake the 21-year-old’s confidence.

The Colorado product believes he can play both WR and CB and plans to deliver wherever he lands. Phil Perry says Travis Hunter is one of just two blue chip players in this year’s draft. Experts expect Hunter to mainly play on the defensive side of the ball, but Perry argues that he could play wide receiver for the Patriots full time while moonlighting at cornerback. Editor's Note: The New England Patriots have a host of roster needs at critical positions, but which one should they address with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft? As part of his "The Case For" series, Phil Perry will highlight five different draft-day options for the Patriots and explain why each may (or may not) be the best course of action.

Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are. Today's scenario involves New England selecting Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

For The Patriots The Travis Hunter Question Looms Larger Than Ever

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