If patriots lose out, Travis Hunter could be theirs

[mgteich]

Agree with this. Hunter is a much better player than MacMillan is.

Much of the value of Hunter presume that he will be able to play 20 games a season at two positions. Who was the last top player to do this? For me, I'd rather have a really top player at ONE position plus another pick or two.

If we pick 3, we will be able to get a pick to trade down, even a pick or two. There are top stud corners and WR's, and perhaps even an OT who will make the make down worth it.

I guess that we'll disagree up until the Draft and then after the draft, as was the case in 2024. The top of the draft will be a bit less complicated with only 2 QB's likely in the top 5.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Trading down AND picking WR never made any damn sense. I can't remember but I think something like 8 WR were already off the board.

So we trezs back, allow for more WR to go off the board, and then grab something like the 9th or 10 WR taken in the first 37 picks.

It never made any sense.

I was fine with trading back as long as we didn't go after a WR which I know doesn't make sense since we badly need not one, not two but 3 quality WR but I was never ever ok with taking the 10th next prospect off the board given our situation.

If we traded the 2nd round pick, I was hoping for a trade UP to get a quality left tackle actually.

Turns out we shot ourselves in the foot and got the worst result possible, two tickets for two worse WR players instead of taking the pretty sure thing who fell in our lap in McConkey.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Much of the value of Hunter presume that he will be able to play 20 games a season at two positions. Who was the last top player to do this? For me, I'd rather have a really top player at ONE position plus another pick or two.

If we pick 3, we will be able to get a pick to trade down, even a pick or two. There are top stud corners and WR's, and perhaps even an OT who will make the make down worth it.

I guess that we'll disagree up until the Draft and then after the draft, as was the case in 2024.

You always draft the best possible talent period. Unless it's a RB or Guard. Those you can get later.

Both WR and CB are premium positions in the NFL.

Look at Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers. They didn't shy away from signing a generational talent who could play two positions, and they have been well rewarded for their investment.

Who says that Hunter has to play both positions an equal amount of minutes? You could play him WR 85-90% of offensive snaps and then put him in high leverage defense sub packages when you really need to stop the pass. There's no such thing as a player having too much talent, just coaches who lack the brains to properly utilize that talent.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Sorry, I meant trading out of the #3 spot (or 2 if the Raiders get a win). As of today, I’m thinking they can draft a cornerstone LT in the draft and a young vet in Higgins in FA but but there are a bunch of things that could happen in FA that might alter my opinion.

Agree about Polk/McConkey, as of year 1 in their careers, the Pats took the wrong guy. I would love for Polk to turn it around but that seems to be a pipe dream at this point.

I'm going to wait on BaconGrundleCandy's appraisals on the Tackle prospects for this 2025 draft but I don't believe it is nearly as highly touted as last year's class. Unfortunately there might not be a tackle worth trading down for.

I'm only interested in taking blue chip can't miss talents in the 1st. Trading down in the draft and ending up with worse talent has bit us in the ass too many times to count.

I was in the camp for stay up at 3 for Maye and thankfully he made it there and the Patriots brain trust pulled the trigger to take him there. Let's see how the draft shakes out but like I said, I don't see attractive alternatives yet for just staying and taking the top blue chip guy available at #3, assuming we can keep that draft spot.

 

[festy1986]

I'm going to wait on BaconGrundleCandy's appraisals on the Tackle prospects for this 2025 draft but I don't believe it is nearly as highly touted as last year's class. Unfortunately there might not be a tackle worth trading down for.

I'm only interested in taking blue chip can't miss talents in the 1st. Trading down in the draft and ending up with worse talent has bit us in the ass too many times to count.

I was in the camp for stay up at 3 for Maye and thankfully he made it there and the Patriots brain trust pulled the trigger to take him there. Let's see how the draft shakes out but like I said, I don't see attractive alternatives yet for just staying and taking the top blue chip guy available at #3, assuming we can keep that draft spot.

To be clear. When I say trade back. I'm talking like going from pick 3 to pick 7. And getting a first and a second for your troubles because someone desperately wants whatever player you have there.

That's the only consideration I'd give for moving backwards. It's not going to be a BB special where we trade our first for a future first and call it a day.

 

[mgteich]

You always draft the best possible talent period. Unless it's a RB or Guard. Those you can get later.

Both WR and CB are premium positions in the NFL.

Look at Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers. They didn't shy away from signing a generational talent who could play two positions, and they have been well rewarded for their investment.

Who says that Hunter has to play both positions an equal amount of minutes? You could play him WR 85-90% of offensive snaps and then put him in high leverage defense sub packages when you really need to stop the pass. There's no such thing as a player having too much talent, just coaches who lack the brains to properly utilize that talent.

So, picking a stud CB or WR doesn't constitute value if we trade down and get another pick as compensation. To be very clear, I want us to get a stud WR or CB or OT in the top 8 of the draft.

 

[XLIX]

You always draft the best possible talent period. Unless it's a RB or Guard. Those you can get later.

Both WR and CB are premium positions in the NFL.

Look at Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers. They didn't shy away from signing a generational talent who could play two positions, and they have been well rewarded for their investment.

Who says that Hunter has to play both positions an equal amount of minutes? You could play him WR 85-90% of offensive snaps and then put him in high leverage defense sub packages when you really need to stop the pass. There's no such thing as a player having too much talent, just coaches who lack the brains to properly utilize that talent.

The NFL is too grueling to have full time 2 way players. Hunter will either be a full time CB with appearances at WR for special/trick plays or vice versa.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

So, picking a stud CB or WR doesn't constitute value if we trade down and get another pick as compensation. To be very clear, I want us to get a stud WR or CB or OT in the top 8 of the draft.

Forget OT. There are no stud OTs in the top 8. We don’t want to end up with another fat lazy Isiah Wynn

 

[XLIX]

Forget OT. There are no stud OTs in the top 8. We don’t want to end up with another fat lazy Isiah Wynn

IOW Isaiah Wynn....

 

[lancerman]

You always draft the best possible talent period. Unless it's a RB or Guard. Those you can get later.

Both WR and CB are premium positions in the NFL.

Look at Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers. They didn't shy away from signing a generational talent who could play two positions, and they have been well rewarded for their investment.

Who says that Hunter has to play both positions an equal amount of minutes? You could play him WR 85-90% of offensive snaps and then put him in high leverage defense sub packages when you really need to stop the pass. There's no such thing as a player having too much talent, just coaches who lack the brains to properly utilize that talent.

He's neither the best WR nor best CB in the draft. He's the best player because he can do it in college against worse competition on a shorter schedule. He's the best talent based off his ability to do something in college that everyone in the world knows he will not do in the NFL.

You aren't getting him as what he did to win the Heisman. You're getting a guy who will play one position.

Secondly, the only version where that kind of makes sense is drafting him to play CB because that's the position he's better at, and using him on some gadget plays. There's no way on Earth that he's going to play a whole game as WR, practice as WR, and then in crucial game situations he's going to go in at CB. You aren't going to put a guy in that position, you are going to use the best pure CB who actually has been practicing all week to defend a specific receiver or specific packages and knowing all the routes that player runs. He's a much more prototypical CB. At WR he just sort of started showing skills there this year and has a lot of negatives. He's undersized and he's had issues with defensive backs jamming and rerouting him as a result. That will get worse in the NFL and it would be dumb to sacrifice his speed which is his main strength at the position to get more size. He's going to get bullied by NFL defenders who are going to jam the **** out of him. Frankly I would be stunned if any NFL team considering him is even thinking about him as primarily a WR.

This isn't baseball. Two way players have a much greater precedent there and he's not going to pitch every game and even in those games you are worrying about about 4 at bats. It's rare but there's always a few in baseball.

Physical talent is important, but you have to be realistic on what the talent means. Hunter is the best talent in the draft not because he's the consensus best WR or consensus best CB. But because he's the the guy that is very good at playing both.

 

[lancerman]

A pretty good LT won the Pats 6 superbowls.

Generational talent at LT is grossly overrated.

How many superbowls did HOF LT Joe Thomas win?

Heck. He never once played a snap in the playoffs his entire career.

At least HOF Wr Randy Moss led multiple best offenses, went to the NCF championship game and made the game leading TD reception on the nearly perfect season.

Give me a HOF WR over a HOF LT any day

I don't think that's a great argument. A line is a unit. It's as good as it's weakest link. If you have a great line and a horrible LT, you still have a bad line because of how important the position is. Having a premier LT is still always better than not having one.

On the flipside, we watched a Chiefs team that had the best TE and the best WR in football with the best QB get the **** kicked out of them because of the line in a Super Bowl once.

A HOF WR can make an immediate impact on a WR corp that is lacking compared to an LT. But at the end of the day, you win upfront.

 

[mgteich]

I don't think that's a great argument. A line is a unit. It's as good as it's weakest link. If you have a great line and a horrible LT, you still have a bad line because of how important the position is. Having a premier LT is still always better than not having one.

On the flipside, we watched a Chiefs team that had the best TE and the best WR in football with the best QB get the **** kicked out of them because of the line in a Super Bowl once.

A HOF WR can make an immediate impact on a WR corp that is lacking compared to an LT. But at the end of the day, you win upfront.

OK. let's discuss the #1 seed in football, the Chiefs.

Please tell me how great their LT has been this year.

A team can play without a good LT and still be a favorite to get into the conference title game.

 

[lancerman]

OK. let's discuss the #1 seed in football, the Chiefs.

Please tell me how great their LT has been this year.

A team can play without a good LT and still be a favorite to get into the conference title game.

The Chiefs are winning because of their defense there offense has taken a step back, this isn't really a great argument.

This is not an argument that a WR is more important. The Chiefs best pass catcher is ranked number 35th in yards (Kelce). If you go by TD's it's Hopkins who is 31st. The Chiefs offensive line meanwhile is is ranked 8th in the league. Chiefs fans are currently over the moon on Joe Thuney right now.

 

[Rob0729]

Gonzalez is not a lesser CB. He looks on pace for pro bowls and maybe an all-pro selection or two n the near future.

Would I give up hope on a rookie WR with upside because the next Revis put him on an island?

Now I don't know how Harrison will turn out but Gonzalez is the real deal and will be a star CB for the foreseeable future.

You misread my post. I said Harrison has struggled to get open against CB lesser THAN Gonzalez. Not that Gonzalez is a lesser CB. I agree Gonzalez is a top CB already in the league. Harrison has had issues with separation most of the season.

 

[gobesmug]

I don't think that's a great argument. A line is a unit. It's as good as it's weakest link. If you have a great line and a horrible LT, you still have a bad line because of how important the position is. Having a premier LT is still always better than not having one.

On the flipside, we watched a Chiefs team that had the best TE and the best WR in football with the best QB get the **** kicked out of them because of the line in a Super Bowl once.

A HOF WR can make an immediate impact on a WR corp that is lacking compared to an LT. But at the end of the day, you win upfront.

Yes but they made it to the Superbowl.

How many playoff wins did the Cowboys have back when they had best oline in football?

I said you still want pretty good play out of your oline. Obviously if your team is terrible at a given position it will translate to losses.

It's just that a HOF WR has a greater impact on the wins columns than a HOF LT does.

 

[scott99]

He's neither the best WR nor best CB in the draft. He's the best player because he can do it in college against worse competition on a shorter schedule. He's the best talent based off his ability to do something in college that everyone in the world knows he will not do in the NFL.

You aren't getting him as what he did to win the Heisman. You're getting a guy who will play one position.

Secondly, the only version where that kind of makes sense is drafting him to play CB because that's the position he's better at, and using him on some gadget plays. There's no way on Earth that he's going to play a whole game as WR, practice as WR, and then in crucial game situations he's going to go in at CB. You aren't going to put a guy in that position, you are going to use the best pure CB who actually has been practicing all week to defend a specific receiver or specific packages and knowing all the routes that player runs. He's a much more prototypical CB. At WR he just sort of started showing skills there this year and has a lot of negatives. He's undersized and he's had issues with defensive backs jamming and rerouting him as a result. That will get worse in the NFL and it would be dumb to sacrifice his speed which is his main strength at the position to get more size. He's going to get bullied by NFL defenders who are going to jam the **** out of him. Frankly I would be stunned if any NFL team considering him is even thinking about him as primarily a WR.

This isn't baseball. Two way players have a much greater precedent there and he's not going to pitch every game and even in those games you are worrying about about 4 at bats. It's rare but there's always a few in baseball.

Physical talent is important, but you have to be realistic on what the talent means. Hunter is the best talent in the draft not because he's the consensus best WR or consensus best CB. But because he's the the guy that is very good at playing both.

This cracks me up, like you’re speaking in the definitive, like you already know what will happen with Hunter’s career. So ridiculous. The draft is a crapshoot in many ways, a lot of times, it depends on situations, if a player is put in the right position to succeed. But, to say he’s not the best WR or best CB, He won the Heisman, he won the Biletnikoff as the nations BEST RECEIVER, he won the Bednarik award as the BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER. He won the AP Top college player award.

For a team not to consider him as a full time receiver is just stupid. He had 92 catches, over 1100 yards and 14 TD catches. He could easily be an NFL Pro Bowl receiver. But because he’s an excellent CB, there’s value in playing him both ways.

My thoughts are, you figure out how you think he fits into your system. If you feel he’s a better WR, you play him 100% as a receiver, and you sprinkle in some key defensive snaps. If you feel he’s a better CB, you play him there 100% and sprinkle in a few key offensive plays, maybe 15-20 offensive snaps a game.

That’s what makes him so intriguing as a prospect. He’s obviously the best PLAYER in the draft. Can you get the most out of him is the biggest question.

 

[lancerman]

This cracks me up, like you’re speaking in the definitive, like you already know what will happen with Hunter’s career. So ridiculous. The draft is a crapshoot in many ways, a lot of times, it depends on situations, if a player is put in the right position to succeed. But, to say he’s not the best WR or best CB, He won the Heisman, he won the Biletnikoff as the nations BEST RECEIVER, he won the Bednarik award as the BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER. He won the AP Top college player award.

For a team not to consider him as a full time receiver is just stupid. He had 92 catches, over 1100 yards and 14 TD catches. He could easily be an NFL Pro Bowl receiver. But because he’s an excellent CB, there’s value in playing him both ways.

My thoughts are, you figure out how you think he fits into your system. If you feel he’s a better WR, you play him 100% as a receiver, and you sprinkle in some key defensive snaps. If you feel he’s a better CB, you play him there 100% and sprinkle in a few key offensive plays, maybe 15-20 offensive snaps a game.

That’s what makes him so intriguing as a prospect. He’s obviously the best PLAYER in the draft. Can you get the most out of him is the biggest question.

On no board is he the consensus best CB or WR. We know he’s not playing both. And there is no precedent in the NFL to take a pure WR and have gadget CB plays. We’d be a laughing stock.

 

[PatsFan2]

He's neither the best WR nor best CB in the draft. He's the best player because he can do it in college against worse competition on a shorter schedule. He's the best talent based off his ability to do something in college that everyone in the world knows he will not do in the NFL.

You aren't getting him as what he did to win the Heisman. You're getting a guy who will play one position.

Secondly, the only version where that kind of makes sense is drafting him to play CB because that's the position he's better at, and using him on some gadget plays. There's no way on Earth that he's going to play a whole game as WR, practice as WR, and then in crucial game situations he's going to go in at CB. You aren't going to put a guy in that position, you are going to use the best pure CB who actually has been practicing all week to defend a specific receiver or specific packages and knowing all the routes that player runs. He's a much more prototypical CB. At WR he just sort of started showing skills there this year and has a lot of negatives. He's undersized and he's had issues with defensive backs jamming and rerouting him as a result. That will get worse in the NFL and it would be dumb to sacrifice his speed which is his main strength at the position to get more size. He's going to get bullied by NFL defenders who are going to jam the **** out of him. Frankly I would be stunned if any NFL team considering him is even thinking about him as primarily a WR.

This isn't baseball. Two way players have a much greater precedent there and he's not going to pitch every game and even in those games you are worrying about about 4 at bats. It's rare but there's always a few in baseball.

Physical talent is important, but you have to be realistic on what the talent means. Hunter is the best talent in the draft not because he's the consensus best WR or consensus best CB. But because he's the the guy that is very good at playing both.

Dude I saw Tarvis Hunter play last year and was Absolutely Blown away. Have you been paying attention to our Pathetic Roster?? A Player with the skill set of Hunter can turn us around quickly: make no mistake he has the Potential to be Great!

 

[PatsFan2]

On no board is he the consensus best CB or WR. We know he’s not playing both. And there is no precedent in the NFL to take a pure WR and have gadget CB plays. We’d be a laughing stock.

 

[The Gr8est]

Wasn't planning to deep dive on prospects until I could see where Pats are picking but saw some all-22 footage from Colorado and Cincy.
Completely sold on Hunter as a WR. Would have 100 catches and over 1,000 yards year 1 with Drake Maye.

-Good release, good route running, good hands, elite ability to find holes in the defense, Separation is good.
I think his YAC will be excellent without a crap QB, yeah Sanders is a crap QB.
What's his weakness? A little light in weight, not sure he'll be a great blocker, though his legs are not big they are muscular, he's not a twig but if he was 200 pounds he'd be a near-perfect wr prospect.
He'll probably run 4.40 or just under, Chase was 4.38 at 6 feet and 200 vs 6 feet 1 and 185 for Hunter. I don't think he's Chase level but he's a #1 receiver and with a QB like Maye will put up Chase like numbers eventually.

Hunter had 9 receptions for 153 yards with 2 TD's, could have had 15 for 275 with 3 TD's easily except Sanders sees the field terribly. Sanders is even worse seeing the field when he starts to scramble. Drake Maye scramble and Travis Hunter finding spots down field, would be magical.

Tet McMillen- He has some issues. Release isn't good, separation isn't good, route running is not good. Elite hands, uses body size very well, deceptive top end speed, faster in games than 40 would suggest once he gets up to speed. Would be great red zone receiver, I question his ability to get open outside the red zone and whether good NFL CB's would be boxed out with his body the way college CB's can be.

Not saying T-Mac can't be a good receiver but he has work to do on the nuances of being a receiver and relies on his size and athleticism right now. Hunter does it all. Start him at WR and have him play CB on 3rd downs.

Just lose out the rest of the way please, hey Drake, if you want the elite receiver, Hunter is the man, don't screw it up! This might be the 1 chance to get the Chase type #1 receiver. Imagine if the Bengals one 1 more game and missed out on Chase that year?

Sanders is a 2nd round QB level prospect. Upside is limited, might be a middle of the road NFL QB if he does not bust. Raiders or Giants have no choice but to take him and hope he develops but odds are low he ever comes close to carrying a team as a franchise QB.

And consider the filter down effect on our other receivers since Hunter would draw the attention.

Polk might even be able to drop uncontested passes rather than just contested ones.