The NFL Draft is about a month away, and by all accounts, it’s poor…especially at the top. Teams seem to be scrambling to trade down. There are only two QBs who are first-round talents, Cam Ward and Shaddeur Sanders. And Sanders seems to be dropping outside the top five. There are no game-changing tackles, and all of the potential first-rounders have T-Rex arms.
Some mock drafts have edge defender, Abdul Carter going no.1. And some have Miami Hurricane QB Cam Ward in the top spot. The Tennessee Titans currently have the no.1 pick and have a huge decision on their hands, because they need help everywhere.
This isn’t a mock draft, it is a synopsis of who should be the slam-dunk no.1 pick…regardless of who makes it. Whether it’s the Titans or a team they trade the pick to, Colorado’s Travis Hunter should be the no.1 pick in this year’s draft…and it’s not even close.
Hunter is as close to a legitimate two-way player the league has seen in decades. I don’t like crossing sports, and it’s not completely applicable, but Hunter can legitimately claim to be football’s Shohei Ohtani.
There are many reasons Hunter is the obvious choice:
He’s the reigning Heisman Trophy winner: As the defending Heisman Trophy winner, he was considered college football’s MVP. And although that award doesn’t always translate to success in the NFL, it definitely speaks to Hunter’s overall skill. And, these teams picking at the top of the draft, are all awful. Their fan bases need some buzz, excitement, and hope. Hunter provides all three of those things.
He’s a true weapon at wide receiver: Last season, Hunter caught 96 passes for 1258 yds, averaging 13.1 yds per reception; catching 15 TD passes. He’s quick and has a fantastic ability to catch contested passes, (50/50 balls).
He won DPOY in the BIG12: As good as he is as a receiver, many scouts feel his game translates better as an NFL CB. Aside from the Heisman, he was considered the best defensive player in the Big 12. He had 36 tackles along with four interceptions. Like many lockdown CBs, those numbers weren’t higher, because he was hardly ever thrown at.
Team salary is always a premium for NFL teams: With Hunter, whoever snags him, is getting two players for the price of one. And considering how every owner looks at every penny, Hunter will become a huge value. Even if he flames out as a WR or CB, he won’t flame out at both positions. Considering how the draft can often be a crap shoot, to be able to get a player who can stick at two positions, it’s literally like drafting two players for the price of one.
If Tennesse keeps the pick they can use him on both sides of the ball. Their no.1 WR is Calvin Ridley, who only had 64 catches and a smidge over 1000 receiving yds; only catching four TD passes. On defense, they only had 11 interceptions last season.
Realistically, if Tennessee does trade the pick, whoever moves up will probably be targeting Carter or Ward, but they will be missing the boat, badly. It is so obvious, staring these 32 GMs in the face; but I don’t think any of them will be able to see the forest through the trees.
Whoever does take Hunter, at whatever spot he ends up landing; will have the pick of the draft…and generational talent. There will be a true unicorn in the NFL in 2025.
