Joel Klatt claims it would be 'difficult' to pass on drafting Travis Hunter

Travis Hunter will be a unicorn for whichever team drafts him later this month. Expected to play both offensive and defensively to begin his NFL career — he brings a more diverse and unique skillset to the game than any other prospect in this year’s cycle.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt’s most recent Mock Draft has Hunter going second overall to the Cleveland Browns. However, Klatt admitted that he made it prior to recent free agency shakeups such as Russell Wilson‘s signing with the New York Giants, which may impact where Hunter eventually ends up. Still, whether a team needs a new QB1 or not — Klatt believes any team will have a hard time passing on the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

“I’m a huge believer that this guy is going to be one of the best players in the National Football League,” Klatt said during an appearance on First Things First. “I think he could be a top five, if not top three, corner in the league, and I think that he can be one of the most dynamic playmakers on offense. I do think he’s going to play both ways.

“I think that there is a path to play both ways that doesn’t ruin him physically, and that’s why I put him up there with the Browns. But truth be told, with what’s going on in free agency and where quarterbacks have landed, I do think probably, when I go to my next mock that I’ll have Shedeur [Sanders] with Cleveland, but, man, it’s going to be difficult to pass on on Travis Hunter.”

With both the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 and the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 in need of a quarterback, Hunter could fall into the New York Giants’ laps at No. 3 overall. Pairing Hunter up with a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback in the Big Apple could certainly sell itself to Giants fans, but it remains to be seen if he’ll even be on the board at that point.

Many see Hunter as a better cornerback prospect than as a wide receiver. However, Hunter challenged that perspective when he caught passes for Sanders in front of NFL scouts in Boulder last week. He only showcased his receiving skills to those scouts during the workout.

However, if scouts want to see how dynamic of a player he is for themselves — he has plenty of tape to prove it. This past season alone, Travis Hunter totaled 1,258 offensive yards and a Big 12-leading 15 touchdowns. As a defensive back, he added 36 tackles and four interceptions. In turn, making him the most intruiging prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.