Travis Kelce argues Travis Hunter should play both ways in NFL, make defense primary position

For the next few weeks, two big questions will surround the 2025 NFL Draft. The first is where the quarterbacks will go in the first round, and the second is which position Travis Hunter will play.

Hunter cemented himself as a bona fide two-way player at Colorado, playing nearly every snap for the Buffaloes throughout his college career. Those efforts helped him win the Heisman Trophy in 2024 and emerge as one of the top players in the draft.

But some wonder just how feasible it would be for Hunter to play 100% of the snaps in the NFL. While Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce argued Hunter has earned the right to play both sides of the ball at the next level, he said defense should be the primary position with some packages on offense.

“I think he’s proven that he needs to play on both sides of the ball,” Kelce told his brother Jason on their New Heights podcast. “I think it’s easier for him to be on the field all the time as a defensive player. And then, offensively, coming in on certain plays.

“I think that is so much easier. … What’s the point in certain run downs, where you know it’s run, to have him on the field going in there scooping out a safety. Could he do it? Yeah. Could I get another guy to do that? Probably.”

Hunter totaled 1,258 yards and a Big 12-leading 15 touchdowns on offense while adding 36 tackles and four interceptions on defense as a cornerback. He was listed as a defensive back at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine, but was also in attendance for the wide receivers’ day.

Travis Kelce: ‘100% possible’ Travis Hunter plays both ways

Of course, Hunter wouldn’t be the first to play both sides of the ball. His now-former coach Deion Sanders famously did so, as did the likes of Champ Bailey and Mike Vrabel. But no player has ever been on the field for every snap in the NFL, and Travis Kelce explained how teams could find a way to capitalize if Hunter does so.

“It’s 100% possible,” Kelce said. “He’s gonna have to prove that he can do it. Nobody has ever played every single play on both sides. When Deion did it, he was in, like, nickel. He was in certain packages, I believe. … In the NFL, they’ll have to scheme up around him getting too exhausted. They really have to weigh that into their play-calling, both offensively and defensively.

“Defense, you can’t just go man and expect Travis to just run all around the field with a guy like Tyreek Hill. As an offensive coordinator, I’m sending him on a go every play and eventually, if you’re playing offense and defense, the wheels are going to get at least a little bit worn out. … You’d have to scheme him to be able to play Cover 2, and I just think he’s a better player when he’s in man on defense.”

When it comes to putting Hunter in man-to-man situations, Kelce said opposing offensive coordinators could throw that receiver on a go-route to wear Hunter out. That’s why he said a package of plays on offense would probably be the best way to go.

“I just think when you get man-to-man coverage in the NFL, you think, ‘Oh, if I’ve got a good guy out there, I’m taking that matchup,'” Kelce said. “That mentality, it can wear a guy out.

“And I’m not saying that he can’t do it because I was blown away by what he could do in college, in terms of playing every single down. I think it’s smarter to find him – if he is going to do that – I think it’s smarter to scheme it up to where you know you’re not putting him a vulnerable position to get tired out faster.”