Patriots Drafting Travis Hunter Abdul Carter Becoming Increasingly

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 6:22 AM

patriots drafting travis hunter abdul carter becoming increasingly

Sitting at No. 4, it appears the Patriots might miss out on the two best players available this year. Selecting fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots will be in prime position to add some much-needed talent to their team. However, it seems increasingly likely that they will not be able to add the potential difference makers available this year. At this point in time, it appears that neither Travis Hunter nor Abdul Carter will be making it past the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants at picks No. 2 and 3, respectively.

According to reports by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer on Wednesday, the two teams are trending toward going after those two rather than fill their needs at quarterback. “It certainly feels like the Cleveland Browns are inclined to look elsewhere aside from quarterback. And it’s starting to feel like the New York Giants at No. 3 are starting to look elsewhere other than quarterback,” Schefter said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. Send this article to your social connections. Send this article to your social connections.

Given the number of glaring holes sprinkled across the Patriots’ depth chart, the case can be made that New England needs to target the best player available when they land on the clock with... 4 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Though the team’s most pressing need might be a left tackle, the Patriots’ best chances of adding an immediate impact player at No. 4 likely lies in either Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter or CB/WR Travis Hunter falling to them at that spot on the draft order. Both Carter and Hunter sit atop this current NFL Draft class as can’t-miss, blue-chip prospects — and would each give the Patriots a legitimate star talent who could make an immediate impact in 2025. In roughly three months, the New England Patriots will be at the draft table, making an important call with their fourth overall pick.

This year’s pool of athletes has some gems, and the Patriots are in a tricky spot but could possibly select a player who could alter their on-field plays. While the top two quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, are projected to be picked by teams ahead of New England in the draft, the franchise needs to elevate its defensive lineup. Two big names in the 2025 NFL Draft for the Patriots are Travis Hunter, who can play both wide receiver and cornerback and Abdul Carter, who is a strong pass rusher. The tricky part is that the team isn’t the only one interested in these players, and what the top three franchises do will be determining. Chad Brinker, president of the Tennessee Titans, who holds the first overall pick, has hinted that his team wouldn’t pass up on a “generational talent,” which could possibly refer to either Hunter or Carter. If the Titans pick one of them, that could mess with the Patriots’ plans.

But there’s still hope, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who pointed out that the Cleveland Browns (No. 2 pick) and New York Giants (No. 3 pick) are probably going to select a QB, which could leave Hunter or Carter available for New England if things break their way. Ever since the New England Patriots won their meaningless Week 18 game, which cost the franchise the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the best-case scenario for the first round has been obvious. The Pats’ dream has been for two quarterbacks to be taken in the first three picks, which would ensure that either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter falls to them at No.

4. In this draft class, Hunter and Carter are the clear-cut top prospects, a tier ahead of the rest. If the Pats could land either of them, that would go a long way toward boosting a roster that lacks true difference-makers. Now, with the draft a little more than two weeks away, teams are finalizing their boards and prospect rankings. The top quarterbacks have already completed their pro days and thrown for the interested teams. So let’s check on where things stand with the Patriots’ goal of landing Hunter or Carter with the fourth pick.

For the sake of this exercise, we’ll assume the Tennessee Titans pick quarterback Cam Ward at No. 1 — because that seems close to a given, considering the Titans canceled their private workout with Shedeur Sanders, all but ensuring Ward will be the pick. Abdul Carter has all the traits of a dominant edge rusher 😤 @1NCRDB1 @Pennstatefball Albert Breer reveals what he’s hearing about Abdul Carter & Travis Hunter, explaining why the Pats may not have a shot at either player. The general consensus among draft experts is that there are two "blue-chip" prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft: Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Either player would be a great addition for the New England Patriots at No.

4 overall. But will either player still be available at No. 4? That depends on what the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants do with the first, second, and third overall picks, respectively. Miami quarterback Cam Ward seems like a strong fit for the Titans at No. 1, but would either the Browns or Giants be tempted to take Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, guaranteeing that either Carter or Hunter makes it to No.

4? Subscribe to NBC Sports Boston's podcast network to hear our Insiders bring you the latest insights on your favorite teams! With the 2025 NFL Draft just months away, prospects are getting high, and teams are hustling to try and situate themselves with what looks like a game-changing prospect. For the New England Patriots, this is a moment of great importance for this year’s draft as they attempt to revamp their roster. However, emerging reports suggest that the team could lose two of the most coveted players: cornerback Travis Hunter and linebacker Abdul Carter. What other headlines are emerging as the NFL Draft nears?

Recent reports have ruled out the possibility of the Patriots securing Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, who are possibly the most sought-after prospects in the draft. Hunter, a flashy corner from Colorado, has dazzled scouts with his versatility and playmaking. Carter, a linebacker from Penn State, is considered the best defensive player in this class. Yet, the Patriots hold the fourth spot in the draft, and it seems they may be drafting too low to realistically acquire either player. Sources close to the team say while it is expected they will target a defensive player, Hunter and Carter will be, well, too far out of reach unless New England can somehow engineer a... The pursuit of a legitimate top defender has emerged as one of the major storylines, though acquiring these two would require quite the move.

Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter is still very much in play for the New England Patriots, per NFL draft analyst Todd McShay. There have been doubts that Carter would fall to the Patriots at No. 4 on the draft board with both the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants possibly in play for the standout pass rusher. However, Carter recently made New England one of his four stops on his top-30 visits. As McShay noted, that doesn't happen unless Carter and his agent believe he has a chance to sign. “The agent doesn't let Abdul Carter travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts if he [doesn’t] think there's a chance," McShay said on "The McShay Show." "So the agent is getting the same information that I'm getting,...

That Shedeur [Sanders] could be in play at [No.] 3." The dream draft prospects for the Patriots are likely Carter and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. There's a good chance Hunter ends up with the Browns, unless they pivot to a quarterback. That would leave the Giants to pick between getting a quarterback or going after the best available player on the board.

Patriots Drafting Travis Hunter Abdul Carter Becoming Increasingly

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