Draft season is chaos. Teams scrambling, scouts over-analyzing, and fandoms hoping their franchise doesn’t fumble the bag. But one name keeps echoing louder than the rest: Travis Hunter. The dude’s not just a top prospect—he’s a football anomaly. A wide receiver by choice, a lockdown corner by demand. And as Rob Gronkowski put it, “You can do Travis Hunter, who is a once-in-a-generation type player… He can play both sides of the ball.” Gronk may have advised the Patriots against taking him, but the respect? Undeniable.
So, what happens when a player like this enters the draft? Well, Tennessee holds the No. 1 pick, and they’re staring down a decision that could define their next decade. Titans president Chad Brinker recently made it clear: “We wouldn’t pass on a generational talent.” Some think he meant Penn State’s Abdul Carter, an elite edge rusher. But let’s be real—Hunter is the only guy who truly fits that label. He’s the ultimate Swiss Army knife, and in today’s NFL, versatility is gold.
But if not the Titans, then who can nab him? The league has officially released the first-round picks order, which kicks off on Thursday, April 24, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, followed by rounds two and three on Friday, April 25.
Pick
Team
Win
Loss
Win %
Strength of Schedule
1
Tennessee Titans
3
14
.176
.522
2
Cleveland Browns
3
14
.176
.536
3
New York Giants
3
14
.176
.554
4
New England Patriots
4
13
.235
.471
5
Jacksonville Jaguars
4
13
.235
.478
6
Las Vegas Raiders
4
13
.235
.540
7
New York Jets
5
12
.294
.495
8
Carolina Panthers
5
12
.294
.498
9
New Orleans Saints
5
12
.294
.505
10
Chicago Bears
5
12
.294
.554
11
San Francisco 49ers
6
11
.353
.564
12
Dallas Cowboys
7
10
.412
.522
13
Miami Dolphins
8
9
.471
.419
14
Indianapolis Colts
8
9
.471
.457
15
Atlanta Falcons
8
9
.471
.519
16
Arizona Cardinals
8
9
.471
.536
17
Cincinnati Bengals
9
8
.529
.478
18
Seattle Seahawks
10
7
.588
.498
19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10
7
.588
.502
20
Denver Broncos
10
7
.588
.502
21
Pittsburgh Steelers
10
7
.588
.502
22
Los Angeles Chargers
11
6
.647
.467
23
Green Bay Packers
11
6
.647
.533
24
Minnesota Vikings
14
3
.824
.474
25
Houston Texans
10
7
.588
.481
26
Los Angeles Rams
10
7
.588
.505
27
Baltimore Ravens
12
5
.706
.529
28
Detroit Lions
15
2
.882
.516
29
Washington Commanders
12
5
.706
.436
30
Buffalo Bills
13
4
.765
.467
31
Kansas City Chiefs
15
2
.882
.488
32
Philadelphia Eagles
14
3
.824
.453
Clearly, Tennessee is in the front seat. And do you think after all that hype, they wouldn’t be on the hunt for Hunter? Think again. Look at the numbers. The Heisman Trophy winner dominated both sides of the ball in a way we haven’t seen in college football history. He ranked sixth in PFF receiving grade among WRs, and third in coverage grade among cornerbacks. That’s absurd. And for a Titans team that needs help everywhere, Hunter could instantly fill two of the most valuable non-QB positions.
The NFL Draft order is officially set.
Only 73 days away pic.twitter.com/qFzjwuGUm7
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 10, 2025
But here’s where things get tricky. Does Tennessee stick with the safe bet—a franchise quarterback—or roll the dice on Hunter’s generational talent? History says QBs go first. But talent like this? It’s rare. And considering how the Titans ended the season at 3-14, they need more than just a QB fix. A player like Hunter could reshape their entire identity.
Of course, there’s always the trade factor. Teams desperate for a franchise QB might be willing to pay a king’s ransom to move up. And if the Titans believe Hunter will still be available after a trade-down, they might take the gamble. But if they pass on him entirely? They better hope he doesn’t end up tormenting them twice a year in a division rival’s jersey.
Travis Hunter has learned one thing:
Travis Hunter isn’t just a prospect—he’s a draft wrecker. Quarterbacks usually steal the spotlight, but Hunter? He’s the kind of player who makes teams question their entire draft board. The real debate isn’t who will take him, but who can afford not to. And as the draft clock winds down, Hunter made sure to remind everyone where his journey started—with Deion Sanders at Jackson State.
After securing the 2024 Heisman Trophy, Hunter took a moment to reflect on his path, giving credit to both HBCU Jackson State and Deion Sanders for shaping his game. “That was my learning grounds,” Hunter said during his Heisman acceptance speech. “That was my proving grounds. I had to start somewhere, and I started there.” His time in Jackson wasn’t just a stepping stone; it was the foundation that turned him into one of the most electrifying two-way players in college football history.
Of course, his move to Colorado put him under an even bigger spotlight, but the talent was always there. At Jackson State, he pulled off 18 receptions for 188 yards and 4 touchdowns—while locking down offenses as a corner with 20 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery. A true two-way monster, just like the guy who coached him. Sanders saw the potential early and never shied away from calling Hunter the best player in the country. Turns out, he wasn’t wrong.
Now, Hunter is heading to the NFL with teams lining up to make him their franchise cornerstone. The legacy of his college career isn’t just about his dominance on the field, but the schools and coaches who helped him get there. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that the NFL is about to find out what Deion Sanders knew all along—Travis Hunter is different.
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