ESPN's Mel Kiper, Field Yates rave about Travis Hunter, project his NFL Draft landing spot

In a SportsCenter special on Wednesday, ESPN’s NFL Draft experts including Mel Kiper and Field Yates conducted a mock draft where they slotted in several of the top picks in the first round. Among them? Colorado two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

The ESPN panel had Hunter selected at No. 2 overall by the Cleveland Browns.

“In this scenario I think it’s a two-player race, it’s Abdul Carter, it’s Travis Hunter, take your pick,” Yates said. “I have no issue with Travis Hunter.”

The two-way phenom could offer some real potential as a guy that could play on either side of the ball, something that may appeal to some NFL teams.

But more than anything, the appeal with Hunter is all of his qualities off the field, Yates explained.

“One of the more interesting things I’ve heard in this draft cycle, which is new and fresh and early to a lot of people but for Mel, Matt (Miller) and I, we’re about three-quarters of the way there to the finish line, is that kind of gauging prospects around the NFL class this year, the scouts would say as good as the player is, whether he’s great, bad, somewhere in between, the character is off the charts good,” Yates said. “One of the first names that I heard was Travis Hunter.”

Coaches and players alike have praised Hunter for his work ethic. That has made its way to NFL scouts.

“Here’s what was fed back to me, was that everybody sees the highlights, but you just understand the preparation, the attention to detail, the dedication it takes to go to twice the meetings, play twice the snaps, do double the conditioning,” Yates said. “I get it, there’s basically no history of a player playing both ways, like Travis Hunter has in college, at the NFL level. But I’ll be damned if they don’t give it a try with Travis Hunter, because this kid is a unicorn.

“I don’t call him a wide receiver or a cornerback, I call him Travis Hunter, a unicorn from Colorado. That’s how special a player he is.”

One potential hang-up? There are still some teams with quarterback needs, and it’s unclear whether Cleveland might be one of them.

At the very least, though, there are going to be some potential trade scenarios that could spoil the landing spot for Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall.

“I would echo what Adam (Schefter) said, Adam is the best in the business, the insider, knows what all these teams are thinking,” Kiper said. “Talks about quarterback, you have to have strength and conviction. You have to believe in and love these quarterbacks. Can’t be a single or double, it’s got to be a triple, home run, grand slam. You’ve got to believe that type of quarterback can be that guy.”

So will someone view one of the quarterbacks left on the board as that guy? ESPN had Cam Ward from Miami off the board at No. 1 overall.

Kiper sees one team that could be eyeing a move up for a quarterback, possibly causing Travis Hunter to slip.

“For the Raiders at six, they missed out last year,” Kiper said. “I find it fascinating to see if they’re going to be at six and just stay there, find another quarterback like Sam Darnold, mentioned Justin Fields, or will they try to move up?

“And what does Cleveland want to do? They want to go another direction for quarterback? Move down off of two and let, say, Tom Brady with the Raiders and that influence there and the Shedeur Sanders connection? Will they try to move up to that second spot or will the Raiders stand pat? I think the Raiders are going to be a key to this whole thing to see if they move up to get a quarterback.”