The top two NFL draft analysts projected Travis Hunter to land with the Patriots, so it’s only natural to try to imagine how he’d be used in New England.
It seems increasingly likely that the Tennessee Titans will select quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick. It’s unknown what the Cleveland Browns or New York Giants will do at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. But if one of them takes Shedeur Sanders, that would set up the Patriots to either select Abdul Carter or Hunter at No. 4.
NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah had Hunter going to New England in his post-free agency mock draft, and he offered his assessment of his role with the Patriots on Wednesday.
“I think with Travis, the unique part about him, the special part is it’s different with different teams in how you use him,” Jeremiah said on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “I do think it’s easier to major in defense and minor in offense, but looking at where the Patriots are at corner and where they are at receiver right now, if he were to go to that specific team, I would look at it and say, ‘Look, you’re full-time offense and we’ll find some spots for you whether it’s third downs, different packages. We’ll sprinkle you in on defense.’ I don’t know how you look at Drake Maye and say this guy that we got that’s better than anyone else at the position on our team, we’re only going to use him part-time. I don’t think that would make sense.”
The Patriots seemed to back themselves into a corner to the point where they needed to select a game-changer on offense to help out Maye in his sophomore season. Hunter fits the bill perfectly, and it would seem like overkill to make Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Hunter your top three cornerbacks.
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Many NFL draft analysts believe the Colorado product can replicate his production in college — 96 receptions for 1,258 yards in 13 games last season — and be a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver. Hunter would be the ideal partner for Maye to set up the foundation of the Patriots’ future on offense. That only can happen if Hunter falls to No. 4.