Could the Browns have a chance at the 2025 NFL Draft’s most intriguing player?

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Colorado's Travis Hunter may be the most unique NFL draft prospect in recent memory. Even the way he announced himself to the sports world was unique.

Hunter was the No. 1 football prospect in the country coming out of high school for the Class of 2022.

He was committed to Florida State for a long time up to his National Signing Day. But at the last minute, in possibly the biggest shocker in college football recruiting history, he spurned the Seminoles and signed with FCS school Jackson State to play with Deion Sanders.

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Hunter followed Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023 and he wasted no time becoming a superstar.

But what makes him easily the most intriguing player in this class is because he has the potential to be an All-Pro at two different positions. Hunter plays both wide receiver and cornerback for the Buffaloes at a very high level, and he plays both quite a lot.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hunter has played 525 snaps on offense and 519 snaps on defense, all in nine games. He also only played in one half of one of those games, which came against Kansas State on Oct. 12.

So that means Hunter is playing a mind-boggling 116 snaps per game for the Buffaloes.

Two-way players are extremely common in high school, but they are so rare to see in the college game. Among notable ironmen in recent college football history are former Georgia Bulldog Champ Bailey and former Ohio State Buckeye Chris Gamble.

Bailey is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but he only played corner in the NFL, and he caught just four passes as a pro. Gamble played nine seasons in the NFL but was exclusively a defensive back and never caught a pass in the NFL.

The closest comparison, ironically enough, is Sanders. But he was mainly a corner for his 14-year career. He did play both ways in 1996 with the Cowboys when he caught 36 passes for 475 yards, both career highs, and a touchdown. Sanders also had two interceptions and 33 solo tackles on defense.

He was drafted fifth in 1989. But Hunter's situation is a little different.

There's basically no doubt that if Hunter isn't the first player who will go off the board in April, he will be the first non-quarterback.

It's not just that he's an all-world athlete, but he has elite talent and production at not one, but two premium positions. And he typically displays it within the same game.

As of Nov. 12, Hunter is tied for sixth in the country in receiving touchdowns (nine), seventh in receptions (69) and 11th in receiving yards (856). He is also tied for 25th in the country in pass breakups with seven, and he has two interceptions and a forced fumble.

That forced fumble clinched an overtime win vs. Baylor, which is best remembered for Shedeur Sanders' Hail Mary as time expired to force OT.

The reality of Hunter is he's most likely not going to play both corner and receiver in the NFL. While games are typically slower paced in the NFL compared to college, the speed of the game is faster, it is much more physical, and each team plays 17 games in the regular season compared to just 12 in college.

So the only question for Hunter is what position will he play in the pros?

That might just come down to the team that drafts him and what that team needs more.

At 6-1, 185 pounds, Hunter has above-average size for the cornerback position. That size is also more than good enough to be a No. 1 receiver.

But what could keep him from being the first pick in April?

It's the same flaw that Marvin Harrison Jr. had in 2024: he doesn't play quarterback.

If a team like the Titans or Giants are picking first overall, considering they are among the teams that would need a quarterback, Hunter might have to wait a little longer to hear his name called.

But what if the Browns had a chance to pick him and if Shedeur Sanders was available?

It's a tough call because as much as the quarterback position matters and the Browns don't have a long-term solution right now, you still need high-end pieces around them, and Hunter is as good a piece as you're going to find in a draft.

Hunter could step into a team like the Browns right now and potentially be the No. 1 receiver from Day 1. That's just how special he is.

He is fast, fluid and has high-end ball skills. Plus, his experience as a cornerback gives him a higher degree of understanding how to manipulate coverage than most receivers, regardless of the level of play.

The Browns have had troubles drafting quality receivers in the post-expansion era. Getting Hunter could help to end those issues.

The value of the receiver position has never been higher, especially ones as athletic and savvy as Hunter.

His ability to sustain his high-level of play on both sides of the ball through 100-plus snaps a game is a testament to his conditioning and, by proxy, his work ethic. The scary thought is that if he can be as productive as he is playing that many snaps, what happens when you play him only 50-70 snaps and only at one position?

The potential there is just tantalizing.

I would personally not be willing to play him in an ironman role in the NFL just because of the physical toll that can take over a 17-game season.

That said, nothing Hunter does should be surprising.

He did it before he stepped on a college field, and he does it every time on Saturdays.