Travis Hunter is living through a reality where the lines between versatility and confusion are blurred. Even as somebody who runs routes for a living, he’s having issues treading across these blurred lines. Being a unicorn and a trailblazer sure has its perks. But it’s got a weird drawback—nobody seems to know how to deal with one! Throughout his college career, the masses were in awe of Hunter, lauding him every step of the way. But a conundrum was simmering underneath all along. Now that he’s ascending to the NFL, it has boiled over and is creating a mess, too. The premise of this conundrum is straightforward. Just what is 2-way Travis Hunter’s primary position going to be in the pros? A couple of draft analysts have spawned a rationale that makes plenty of sense.
A vocal majority of ex-pros, analysts, and general football savants believe Travis Hunter is best suited to being a cornerback. Who’s also utilized in certain offensive packages and game situations. That said, the same people also predict he’s going to get drafted to a franchise that needs help on offense more than defense. Lending into him being more of a WR instead. While Hunter has maintained he wants to continue playing both sides, it’s unrealistic. Especially at the clip he did it in college with Colorado. Hunter used to play every single snap in the game. Not only will doing so over a long period almost assuredly shortens his career. But it will also lead to diminishing returns on both sides for his team and Hunter alike. So, assuming his future franchise left the choice to him, what’s Travis’ preference? He basically did tell us himself.
Although Travis Hunter didn’t say his preference explicitly, he did participate in drills at the Combine in Indy as a cornerback. Which makes sense, given that being a full-time corner and part-time receiver is, in theory, more viable. But he now stares into a fascinating bit of disparity. Which could even lead to potential friction between coaches and Hunter when the time to draft him actually arrives. A ton of in-the-know draftniks and experts are projecting Hunter to land with the New England Patriots with the #4 overall pick. This includes Todd McShay, as well as his comrade Stephen Muench. Both of whom have stated how the Patriots will primarily use Hunter on offense. Muench and McShay discussed the Travis Hunter dilemma on “The McShay Show.” It’s here that Stephen Muench, in passing, opened a can of worms.
“Travis Hunter, this son of a gun, is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. He’s got a chance to be a Hall of Fame player,” remarked McShay. That’s an extremist take if there ever was one. McShay even proceeded to backtrack on it a little. But not to digress, he spoke about how playing 90-100 snaps each game was viable for Hunter.
“What if he can play 90 snaps? You’re playing like 60-65… We can get to 90-100. That means a whole game of defense and 30-35 plays on offense,” stated McShay. Just as he was saying this, Muench cut him short and said, “Not in New England. [There], you gotta play a whole game of offense.” This implies that he believes Hunter is indeed headed to the Pats. “Okay then, 35 plays on defense,” proceeded McShay. Again, implying that he concurs with the Pats landing him. This is intriguing on multiple levels.
Slating Travis Hunter to be a wide receiver isn’t a misplaced or illicit idea. After all, Hunter did win the Fred Biletnikoff Trophy last season. His 15 trips to the end zone, 2nd most in the FBS, and 1,258 receiving yards (5th most) are evidence of his offensive enterprise. The Patriots’ receiving corps lacks vim. QB1 Drake Maye, entering his sophomore season in the league, needs help. The Patriots need to know if they have their franchise quarterback, and providing him with weapons takes precedence over reinforcing a defense that will already be pretty good under new HC Mike Vrabel.
It would appear Hunter would be viewed as a cornerback by 31/32 franchises—except for the one gearing to actually welcome him. Here’s a breakdown of what factors could lead to Travis Hunter being a wide receiver in the NFL—who plays some snaps on defense—versus a lockdown CB1 who plays sporadic offense. These factors apply for both the Pats or otherwise, in case someone else swoops in.
The case for and against Travis Hunter primarily playing as a WR with the Patriots
Wide receivers in this era of football are more quintessential than they’ve ever been. As the game evolves into a more pass-centric style, they’re as precious a commodity as ever. This means they’re paid relatively better, too. Ja’Marr Chase just reset the WR market with roughly $40 million every year. Derek Stingley Jr. also just became the highest-paid CB, making $30 million a year. That 2019 LSU team’s really living it up! If and when Travis Hunter finishes his rookie-scale contract and gets a big payday, he’ll stand to make tens of millions fewer as a CB than as a WR as per the current market. This could easily be a reason for Hunter to focus on being a receiver. Which the Patriots want anyway. But there’s a converse argument to being a CB as well.
Travis Hunter’s small frame, relative to the best wide receivers in the league, lends to him being more of a WR2 or even WR3. Someone who’ll likely play in the slot, albeit not exclusively, instead of playing on the perimeter. They’re very sparse, but there are some holes in Hunter’s repertoire as a receiver. If he’s not a WR1, that big payday and HOF career Todd McShay alluded to may not transpire for Hunter. Meanwhile, he’d be the best corner on his team almost instantly. No matter where he goes. Former NFL safety Louis Riddick, who now works on ESPN, said, “[Hunter is] an instant Pro-Bowler at the corner. I do believe that. But [he’s] not at receiver.”
There’s credibility on both sides of the argument. Which is why it doesn’t seem to be nearing an end. Travis Hunter’s versatility is a gift. It truly is. But in a weird way, it’s also a curse that most players don’t have to contend with. Wherever Hunter ends up going, he’ll hope for one thing. An environment and situation conducive to his development. As well as a coaching unit that allows him to flourish and reach his true potential playing both sides. All this potential getting wasted owing to his team not seeing the vision of a 2-way phenom would really be a travesty.
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