Are you all in on CB Travis Hunter at 4 (Hunter as a WR?)

[Water Boy]

Hunter is obviously an amazing talent, but is he a sure fire blue chip WR? Is he clearly the best WR in the class? Would we draft him at 4 to play primarily CB? Does his ability to play both offense and defense provide significant added value?

I think there is a good case to make that a trade back allowing for multiple round1/2 picks is a better option especially if we want to target Simmons/Ersery/Connerly and say a WR like Burden or Golden.

What say you?

 

[State]

Yes. Imagine what Hunter could do as a WR? Filling in at CB.

 

[manxman2601]

I'd be very disappointed if we traded out of the opportunity to draft Hunter unless we got a hell of a return.

Yes. Imagine what Hunter could do as a WR? Filling in at CB.

This is one of the advantages of drafting Hunter. Should he bust at WR (I don't think he will), you can still use him as a potentially elite DB with those ball skills and instincts. Play him in the slot or at FS. And let's not forget, Carlton Davis does come with concerns about being able to stay healthy for 17 games per season.

 

[Patriot Missile]

If they trade out and he is phenomenally good, it would be tough to live that down.

I still think he is the best wr in this draft as well as the most talented cb which would make that almost impossible to pass up.

I also believe whoever drafts him better be in championship contention come contract time. I think he’s so unique and going to be so good that he will be coveted immensely by 32 teams. Money, location and his brand will come into play. As great as I think he’s going to be there will be risk imo regarding a 2nd contract. Yes, any player drafted you take that risk but this one seems doubled. Two way players like Sanders and Jackson have a special aura about them from fans. We’ve never seen anything like this if he can play both wr and cb at a high NFL level in the same sport.

 

[stelfans]

He’s the best player of the draft, you don’t trade out of that. If he’s there you run to the podium and hope no one notices he’s still there.

 

[EMpats]

Hunter would absolutely transform this offense, and could moonlight as a third down corner to start. Passing on his talent, even if the line is a bigger need, would be a huge mistake.

 

[Rdforty2]

He’s the best player of the draft, you don’t trade out of that. If he’s there you run to the podium and hope no one notices he’s still there.

I think Carter is hands down the best player in the draft. Hunter's upside has him #2 IMO.

Hunter gets a lot of extra hype because of the two positions thing. Personally, the only way that matters is if hes a corner that dabbles as a WR.

If he's a WR first, he's a WR only. He has a lot to learn as both a WR and a CB. Splitting time limits him at both. He will struggle as a CB if he's only allowed to work on it part time. There is real risk involved with Hunter because his lack of refinement at two spots. I do wonder if some safety snaps might be more realistic as his natural instincts could allow him to get by without the development he would need at CB. But I think its safe to assume if he is a WR, that's where he's going to be full time.

Back to the question in original post, I think you can trade down if a deal knocks your socks off. But, given the trouble this team has had finding an impact WR, we probably have to take him and make him a WR. I dont know if hes going to be a WR1 in the Chase or Jefferson mold, but he'd be a step above the Brandon Aiyuk's or Devonta Smith's if he reaches his potential. That'd be a fantastic addition for Drake Maye. Maye was at his best with Josh Downs at North Carolina and Hunter is a super charged version of Downs.

 

[EMpats]

If Troy brown and Julian Edelman can be receivers who played bit parts on defense, Hunter can do it to. I think the notion that you can only play both ways if you major on defense and dabble on offensive is unimaginative and outdated, like a lot of old trends in football. There is absolutely a world where Hunter is a receiver who acts as the dime corner on third and long, with specific coverage assignments that allow him to use his natural cover skills. It’s just going to take a coaching staff with vision.

 

[manxman2601]

Privately, the Patriots consider Hunter not only the best cornerback in the draft, but the best receiver as well.

Karen Guregian: For the Patriots, the Travis Hunter question looms larger than ever

With the Patriots striking out in free agency for a No. 1 receiver, the Travis Hunter question looms.

www.masslive.com

 

[Rdforty2]

If Troy brown and Julian Edelman can be receivers who played bit parts on defense, Hunter can do it to. I think the notion that you can only play both ways if you major on defense and dabble on offensive is unimaginative and outdated, like a lot of old trends in football. There is absolutely a world where Hunter is a receiver who acts as the dime corner on third and long, with specific coverage assignments that allow him to use his natural cover skills. It’s just going to take a coaching staff with vision.

Neither of them played defense while being a major part of the offense.

Edelman caught 4 passes on offense in 2011 when he was forced to play DB in extremely limited snaps.

Troy Brown caught 17 passes in '04 and 39 in '05, the 2 years he played limited snaps on defense.

They were essentially part time offensive players when they were forced into defensive action out of necessity.

As I said earlier, I think playing both spots limit him in both. At 4th overall, I want the biggest impact possible. Sure he could play limited snaps on offense and defense, picking off a couple passes and getting 500 yards receiving. But I'd rather he catch 80 balls for 1200 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Can he play limited snaps on offense and defense like Brown and Edelman? Sure. But I wouldn't take him at 4th overall to be a WR3/4 and CB3/4. I want the WR1.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Privately, the Patriots consider Hunter not only the best cornerback in the draft, but the best receiver as well.

Privately? LOL Like in their bedroom? Guregian is too funny with "privately".

Like Vrabs and co. have a secret that noone had any idea about? They found a real hidden gem? Every personnel person in the NFL thinks that Hunter is the best WR and best CB. Hunter won the Biletnikoff and Heisman trophies. It is a well kept secret within the basement rooms of Gillette? Privately. LOL. These writers kill me.

 

[p8ryts]

Yes. Imagine what Hunter could do as a WR? Filling in at CB.

I'm beginning to warm up to the idea.

 

[XLIX]

I'll be amazed if he's available at 4.

If he is, yes take him.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Neither of them played defense while being a major part of the offense.

Edelman caught 4 passes on offense in 2011 when he was forced to play DB in extremely limited snaps.

Troy Brown caught 17 passes in '04 and 39 in '05, the 2 years he played limited snaps on defense.

They were essentially part time offensive players when they were forced into defensive action out of necessity.

As I said earlier, I think playing both spots limit him in both. At 4th overall, I want the biggest impact possible. Sure he could play limited snaps on offense and defense, picking off a couple passes and getting 500 yards receiving. But I'd rather he catch 80 balls for 1200 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Can he play limited snaps on offense and defense like Brown and Edelman? Sure. But I wouldn't take him at 4th overall to be a WR3/4 and CB3/4. I want the WR1.

Comparing a 7th and 8th round pick is a poor comparison. Obviously Edelman was a Qb at Kent St and Troy Brown was a late round pick who was on thin ice the first few years in the league. Both weren’t established huge impacts as WR’s until they were in the league a few years. Both had good careers and made it work to become Champions.

This guy won the Heisman, Bilitnikoff and Bednarik awards. There is no way you can possibly compare the 3 players in any universe. His natural ability, instincts and athleticism to play both positions is at the top of college football. At the very least if he comes in to only play 3rd down there is a good bet that he lowers opposing teams 3rd down percentages. Gonzales, Davis and Hunter would be formidable in a trio.

 

[Rdforty2]

Comparing a 7th and 8th round pick is a poor comparison. Obviously Edelman was a Qb at Kent St and Troy Brown was a late round pick who was on thin ice the first few years in the league. Both weren’t established huge impacts as WR’s until they were in the league a few years. Both had good careers and made it work to become Champions.

This guy won the Heisman, Bilitnikoff and Bednarik awards. There is no way you can possibly compare the 3 players in any universe. His natural ability, instincts and athleticism to play both positions is at the top of college football. At the very least if he comes in to only play 3rd down there is a good bet that he lowers opposing teams 3rd down percentages. Gonzales, Davis and Hunter would be formidable in a trio.

I didnt make the comparison. Someone else did. I pointed out that it's not accurate, unless you really want to limit what Hunter does know the field. Everything is different between them. Talent and circumstances.

Hunter 100% has the physical talent to be elite in both positions. That's not in question. The issue is, does the demand wear him down and take away from his overall impact? Does spending time practicing both limit the development at both positions? To me, it absolutely does.

Right now, Hunter needs a lot of work as both a WR and. CB. There are a lot of physical specimens at WR and CB that don't make the transition to the league because they lack the finer details. He struggled to guard McMillan in and out of his breaks. You can't just hold then use speed to recover in the league. What happens in the league when he's facing guys mich faster and much quicker? If he's spending 90% of his time at WR, does he refine his CB skills enough? If he spends 60% of his time at WR and 40% at CB, does he develop at either spot?

I mentioned i wonder about his potential as a limited safety because it may be an easier transition to make with his natural instincts. So i acknowledge he's unique. Talent isn't the issue. To me, you just want the biggest impact. For the Patriots, that's as a WR. And to maximize his potential, I think he needs to focus on refining his skills there and not worry about the other side of the ball. For another team, the bigger impact may be as a CB1 that gets a couple reps on offense.

 

[Ring 6]

I’ve felt Hunter wasn’t a good option for us because I don’t think playing 2 ways is reasonable and he is considered a better corner prospect than WR.
I read a rumor today that the Patriots consider him both the best corner AND the best WR in the draft.
Do you just take him, make him a WR be side of need and ignore he is better suited to be a corner?

Maybe after his rookie season start working him in sub packages in D?

What’s everyone think?

Ideally we could them trade up from 38 to pick a LT in the 20s

 

[Dedhampatsfan]

If he's there at 4 I hope they take him but I won't be surprised if he goes top 3.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Definitely take him with the intention of being a wr. Ive also read this about ne and other teams too i believe have him as wr1 of this draft.

If it doesn’t work out for whatever reason the fallback option of pairing him with Gonzalez down the road isn’t bad in any way.

 

[Triumph]

I'm glad that someone finally started a thread about this.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The question of whether he's a WR or DB should scare teams, especially the one's with top picks.

It won't shock me if he slides.