Travis Hunter‘s ambition to play on both sides of the ball in the NFL was initially met with some skepticism. Coming out of the Combine, though, the projected top-five pick is gaining steam as a two-way player in the pros.
The Titans, who hold the first pick in April’s draft indicated that they would consider playing Hunter at wide receiver and cornerback if they select him.
“I think he can do both at a high level,” said Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post).
Hunter played 1,422 total snaps for Colorado in 2024, per Pro Football Focus, 709 on offense and 713 on defense. That averages to a whopping 118 snaps per game. Such as workload has been seen as a risk due to the NFL’s heightened intensity and physicality.
Titans coach Brian Callahan, however, said that a two-way role in the NFL would be “very realistic” for Hunter.
“There’s not many guys that have played that many snaps on both sides of the ball,” continued Callahan, adding that if the team drafted Hunter, they would “find out where he fits.”
If the Titans don’t take Hunter, he will “draw serious consideration” from the Browns, who hold the No. 2 pick, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. General manager Andrew Berry agreed with the growing consensus that Hunter can play both offense and defense in the NFL.
“I’d say this in terms of Travis Hunter — cornerback or receiver? The answer is yes,” said Berry (via Maske). “He can play both. And I think that’s what makes him special.”
The NFL has seen two-way players before – including Deion Sanders, who coached Hunter in college – but that typically has been in cameo or emergency roles. In recent years, Patrick Ricard and Scott Matlock have played fullback and defensive line, but not at the snap count Hunter is aiming for.
Berry also said that the Browns see Hunter “primarily” as a receiver, as opposed to other teams who view him as a full-time cornerback with select involvement as a receiver. If forced to choose, Hunter would prefer the former, according veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, and it’s easy to see why. The receiver market has increased at a far higher rate than the cornerback market in recent years, so Hunter’s earning potential would be maximized by focusing on offense. If he does carve out a two-way role, he’ll be able to demand even more, even if he’s just a rotational contributor on one side of the ball.
Hunter will likely discuss his potential roles in Cleveland on a top-3o visit scheduled for this week, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Ultimately, he won’t be able to choose where he is drafted or where he plays in the NFL, but refusing to give him a chance as a two-way player may affect his relationship with his first team. Teams considering Hunter will want to be confident in their long-term future with a top-five pick.
It would be really fun to see if done properly and it doesn’t break his body. Seems most logical he would be a starting corner with special packages on offense, at least to start.
Hunter should be given a crash course on being a punter…then he could be a 3 way player like Sammy Baugh was.
Sammy averaged 51.4 yards per punt in 1940. A true all-time great who few remember.
Ayyy yoooo pause
If a GM or coach wants to be that guy irresponsible enough to allow this to appease him, then they’ll be the ones to blame when his career is riddled with injuries and he never reaches his full potential focusing on one side of the ball. The nfl is too physical to do this. He’s such a good athlete that he was able to do it on the college level but I think he will learn very quickly that he’s going to have to pick one.
Also, like any other professional sport, there’s other guys that can play these positions on the team unlike at Colorado. He doesn’t have to do both, he’ll be playing with the best of the best