The Patriots have several areas of their depth chart in need of serious injections of talent this offseason.
Given that need to bolster both sides of the ball, could the Patriots target arguably the most talented wide receiver and cornerback in the same draft class in Colorado’s Travis Hunter?
The skilled corner/wideout is one of the most unique and coveted football prospects in recent memory, given his impressive performance in several facets of the game at the collegiate level.
Hunter has put himself in consideration for the Heisman Trophy this season, reeling in 60 catches for 757 yards and eight touchdowns for the Buffaloes while also recording two interceptions and 20 tackles in the defensive backfield.
And with the 2-6 Patriots likely staring at a top-five pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. tabbed New England as the “perfect fit” for Hunter.
“We’re talking about the best player in the class, so the fit has to be a team likely to pick in the top five, if not earlier,” Kiper wrote on ESPN. “The Patriots would love to have the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunter, regardless of what position he plays in the pros. Quarterback Drake Maye needs a legitimate WR1, and Hunter can be that guy.
“His hand-eye coordination, speed and ball skills are all excellent. But I could also see a world where coach Jerod Mayo puts him on defense, lining him up opposite Christian Gonzalez to form a great young cornerback duo. New England can’t go wrong; Hunter has eight TD catches and two interceptions this season.”
While it remains to be seen if Hunter could realistically become the NFL’s Shohei Ohtani and line up on both sides of the ball, he’d give the Patriots a major playmaker wherever Jerod Mayo places him on the field.
The case can be made that New England should focus more on tackle depth in the 2025 NFL Draft, or even trade down in order to acquire future picks. But a player like Hunter might offer the highest ceiling among any of the potential prospects that Eliot Wolf and the Patriots’ top brass could pick from in April.