Travis Hunter and his collegiate head coach believe the two-way dream shouldn’t stop at college. After Pro Day, when asked if Hunter could thrive playing both sides in the NFL, Deion Sanders didn’t hesitate. He said, “NFL is a slow game. You huddle [every play]. How is the contact nowadays? Minimal. That game is more conducive to him [Hunter] being successful [as a two-way player] than a college game. College is tempo, tempo, tempo. Now, you talking about you have to be in shape… He is built for this.” But just as the hype built, ESPN dropped a twist—Hunter has received a clear message from NFL GMs: choose a side. So, although the league loves his talent, many execs say it’s time for a full-time focus.
On the April 5 episode of NFL on ESPN, Dan Orlovsky, Jeremy Fowler, and Laura Rutledge broke down Travis Hunter’s explosive Pro Day at Colorado. However, during the segment, Orlovsky didn’t hold back on his vision for Hunter in the league. He stated, “I think there’s packages of, ‘Hey, we’re playing man coverage—go play some man coverage.’ But he’d play wide receiver for me, and I’d get him the ball 12 times a game, minimum.” Although it was a bold endorsement, the real twist came after. Because right behind the praise came the ultimatum.
Here, Fowler didn’t hold back when weighing in on Travis Hunter’s NFL future, and he said, “See Dan, that’s fascinating, because most teams I’ve talked to do see him as a cornerback first.” But then came the twist—Fowler acknowledged Dan Orlovsky’s offensive perspective and pointed to one rare exception, stating, “The Browns are an anomaly—they’d take him too, they see him as a wide receiver.” Still, the league’s overall stance remains firm and given that Fowler stated, “But multiple executives have pointed this out – that he could be a top 10 to 15 wide receiver, but he will be the very best cornerback in the NFL in two to three years if he focuses on that position.”
Look, according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the NFL’s message on Travis Hunter is loud and clear. Well, after polling 13 HCs and GMs, the overwhelming verdict was simple—cornerback is his calling. “It was overwhelmingly cornerback,” revealed Glazer. But there’s a twist. “They all said, even though we’d start him at cornerback, we’d definitely find packages and plays for him on the offensive side of the ball.” So, in short, Hunter’s two-way magic isn’t going anywhere.
And it totally makes sense—because when you break down Travis Hunter’s numbers, the picture becomes crystal clear. Simply put, numbers don’t lie. In 2024, he dominated both sides of the field with 96 catches, 1,258 receiving yards, and 15 TDs on offense. Flip the script, and he added 36 tackles and 4 interceptions on defense. So, that kind of rare versatility? It’s why he’s one of the most electrifying prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Following that, then came Laura Rutledge with the perfect closer and she stated, “I will say he is fully committed—not only on the physical side, but the mental side. He thinks he’s capable of that. So we’ll see what happens when he ends up getting drafted.” As of now, it’s a full-circle mindset for a full-throttle player.
And just as Hunter’s NFL path starts to take shape, he drops a bold request for Roger Goodell—his big ask shakes up the draft buzz.
The demand made by Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter had one final shot to put on a show—and he didn’t miss. At CU’s Pro Day, the two-way star wasn’t even planning to work out. But then came the switch. He hit the field with Shedeur Sanders, his QB and fellow projected first-rounder, and the sparks flew. Yes, Hunter ran crisp routes, made highlight-reel catches, and reminded everyone why he’s built different. Here, Coach Prime said it best, mentioning that Hunter and Shedeur are the “most bankable prospects in the draft.” And after that performance, it’s hard to argue.
As of now, Travis Hunter’s top-five talent isn’t up for debate—it’s a lock. But what remains a mystery is how he’ll be used at the next level. Cornerback? Wide receiver? Or both? That answer won’t come until April 24, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the mic on draft night. To be honest, the team that calls his name won’t just be picking a player—they’ll be defining his future.
However, Travis Hunter’s draft day demand is crystal clear—and he’s not shy about it. When CBS Sports’ Ran Carthon asked what position he wants to hear from Roger Goodell, Hunter didn’t hesitate and stated with a grin, “He better say wide receiver and DB. He got to.” Here, Carthon pressed further, asking if ‘athlete’ would be enough. But Hunter doubled down, and he insisted, “Nah, I need him to say wide receiver and DB.”
Right now, the spotlight’s on Goodell to get it right. So that Travis gets the chance to show his full potential in the NFL.
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