It’s hard to understand all the questions surrounding Hunter – BOFA Sports

Asking around about players who excel on offense and defense speaks volumes about NFL talent evaluators.

As we now know, the action in the NFL never stops, even without a game being played. The scouting pool is behind us, and free agency will soon wrap up (with the exception of normal Aaron Rodgers drama) before the NFL Draft at the end of April. Speaking of the draft, one of the main questions leading up to the time to see players officially turn pro centered around Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter. Speculation ranges from discussions about where Hunter was drafted, to how he should be used after the team selects him with a potentially high draft pick. On the one hand, these questions can be considered valid, and on the other hand, it would be understandable if this topic as a whole is nothing more than a fodder for talkers and “experts” to quench their thirst for content.

Before diving into the validity of the question, let’s start with the facts about the player, for context purposes. Hunter was highly recruited by many power conference schools, before wowing the college football world with the decision to play at Jackson State, then coached by Deion Sanders. On the surface, people wonder why Hunter would want to play at a smaller college, but considering cornerback is his natural position (more on that in a moment), why wouldn’t he want to learn from the best player to ever play that position? After spending his freshman year at JSU, Hunter followed Sanders to Colorado, where he became known for his versatility. He will not only remain one of the best corners in the country, but also become one of the elite receivers. His ability to be on the field about 100 plays per game (regularly) was instrumental in winning the Heisman trophy last season. Now, Hunter is in the top five on most draft boards in terms of the best players available.

After reading that last paragraph, it’s reasonable to ask why there was a problem deciding where Hunter would fit into the scheme of the team that drafted him. The problem is not with the athletes, but with the front office conducting the evaluation. Like most things in life, feedback and “analysis” comes from a negative perspective, talking about what can’t be done, or what the player can’t or won’t do. What Hunter can do is play football, and there’s no reason why he can’t do in the NFL what he did in college. Deciding how to use Hunter’s talents should be easy from a front office perspective, but with the focus being on attrition, the lines are blurred. If his natural position is defensive back, draft him with the intent of playing him there, then put together a package where he can get some snaps on the offensive end (just to start). If Hunter still feels fresh after any number of games, give him more games. Most importantly, why wouldn’t a team want to get a player with Hunter’s skills as many opportunities on the field as possible? Often, there are too many questions that there is no reason to ask.

Of course, we won’t get an answer until the draft opens on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but that doesn’t mean the clock is stopping anytime soon. With that in mind, let’s talk about bespoke drafts. The Tennessee Titans hold the first pick, followed by the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. Not surprisingly, the conversation begins and ends with the quarterback position, and this year’s class is led by Cam Ward (Miami’s “U”) and Shedeur Sanders (Hunter’s teammate at Colorado). Most would say this is crazy, but if the Titans don’t pick Hunter, it might be better to trade him and stockpile more picks. Despite all the hype (along with the enduring obsession with the QB position), there’s nothing to say Ward or Sanders are players a franchise can build around. Plus, Tennessee has a lot of issues on their roster, and picking a quarterback doesn’t make them go away. It’s easy to forget how important football is to the team, and unless the Titans start building the roster, the same problems will continue. Plus, if it doesn’t work out with Hunter, the team won’t be torpedoed for years, as it would be if it failed at QB. So if Tennessee goes ahead with the pick, they’ll probably pick the best player.

It’s no secret that the NFL season is a tough one, and the toll the game takes on the human body is undeniable. It’s also true how rare it is to see players taking shots on both sides of the ball on a regular basis. What Hunter will do as he enters the league has never been done before, but can he at least have a chance before being automatically rejected? We’re always told that history is meant to be destroyed, so let’s see what Hunter does. From all indications, he has the work ethic to match his talent, and the mentality to be great at what he does. Ultimately, that should be what the entire front office is asking for, and it could be a huge mistake if Hunter can’t maximize his talents due to poor management.