Travis Hunter

[NormZauchin]

I dont know if anyone should ever be considered a sure thing coming out of college. Trevor Lawrence coming out was labeled a generational qb. Now I will admit he is on a turd team but I haven't seen anything from him that makes me believe he has lived up to the hype.

I think "generational" in Lawrence's case meant that it would take a generation before he became a good NFL quarterback.

 

[signbabybrady]

Sanders is not consistently rated in top 10 so I doubt Raiders need to jump up to 4. If he makes it to 4 they can just wait for him to slide. I think any of top 3 teams would be crazy to take Sanders BUT they will fake interest to try to get someone to trade up

Ward likely goes before Sanders. And seemingly top 3.

There are several teams that still need a QB.
Titans, Browns, Giants, Raiders, Jets, and Saints.....in draft order.

One of them gets Ward and one or two might fill the need before the draft.

That still leaves 2 or 3 teams that could be fighting for Sanders.

Is that enough to create a big demand where a big trade could go down or is it just weak enough that the Raiders or Jets can just wait for him at 6 or 7.

 

[stinkypete]

No matter how you shake it, all roads seem to send Graham to Foxboro. I'm ok with this.

 

[JohnJH]

I think Vrabel and company are going to do what Bill did and build the trenches first. That means the most Seymour-like player. A guy who is a HOF anchor for us.

Then as a pure DL, that would be Graham. For a movable chess piece, that would be Carter. I'd take either one as in theory, you can't go wrong with either one.

 

[JohnJH]

I think we go after OL and WR enough in free agency so we're picking less for need and more for solid pieces to build upon.

I hope that's the case, and we get the right ones in FA.

 

[JohnJH]

You have three teams at the top of the draft and all of them need a QB but this is an unimpressive draft at that position. I have to believe at least one of them will address QB prior to the draft either by free agency or trade. Will Levis of the Titans is going to train under Jordan Palmer this offseason so he might get one more shot, though I'd expect them to bring in some competition, maybe Justin Fields on a prove-it deal. That would allow the Titans to kick the can on the franchise QB decision for another year, and take the best player available at 1st overall.

Travis Hunter has said his goal is to be better than Deion Sanders. Sanders was a full-time CB in the NFL who occasionally got some play at WR. He got the most time at WR in 1996 for the Cowboys when he was second on the team in total targets (67) behind Michael Irvin. But that was by far the most usage he got on offense as he didn't get more than 11 targets any other season. Sanders was an All-Pro CB who was capable of chipping in a little on offense. That is what I see as Hunter's most likely path to stardom.

The Titans pick first and already have an elite CB with L'Jarius Sneed. Hunter as a CB would be a luxury pick. If he committed to WR then Hunter can profile as their WR1 of the future, working alongside 30-year-old Calvin Ridley in the meantime. But if he's a CB, I can see the Titans either taking Cam Ward (if they don't bring in a veteran) or taking Abdul Carter. For the sake of this exercise I'll say the Titans take Carter.

Next is the Cleveland Browns. They are desperate for QB help, with Deshaun Watson still on the books but possibly missing the entire 2025 season, and Jameis Winston a free agent. I think they run that draft card to the podium to take Ward.

The New York Giants are next and also need a QB, but are they sold on Shedeur Sanders enough to take him? Does he even want to play in a cold weather climate? Do the Giants want the distraction of his father as well? What about the fact that Hunter would still be right there? The Giants don't have an elite cornerback, as their 2023 first rounder Deonte Banks has struggled so far. The Giants need a new face of the franchise after letting Saquon Barkley walk to their division rival. I think the Giants take Hunter there and take a flier on a QB in the second round (maybe a guy like Jaxson Dart or Quinn Ewers).

That leaves the Pats on the clock at 4. Carter, Ward, and Hunter off the board. Sanders still there but not a need. It would be good to see which team would want to trade up for Sanders and get some extra picks out of it. If no one bites, then I think best player available is the way to go, and I think that guy would be Mason Graham. He's probably the safest bet to make a big impact in the NFL no matter where he goes, and he can probably be a defensive captain in short order with the Pats. I'm not sold on any of the top two OT's as a 4th overall pick, considering they may profile better as guards at the NFL level, and it's a mistake to take interior linemen that high. I like Tetairoa McMillan but I'm not convinced he's a top 5 player in this draft class and you don't want to draft based on need to the point of reaching. Hoping the Pats can address WR by free agency or trade.

If Carter isn't there at #4, I'd absolutely take Graham.

 

[Love The Drake]

If Carter isn't there at #4, I'd absolutely take Graham.

4 is shaping up to be 4 options
Carter
Graham
Hunter
Trade down

Nothing else makes sense.

 

[Tunescribe]

That gif needs to be torn up and burned. Please stop using it or you will be pilloried.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

4 is shaping up to be 4 options
Carter
Graham
Hunter
Trade down

Nothing else makes sense.

no to any og at 4...i might add tet/campbell to that list depending on combine numbers.

 

[gobesmug]

I’d love to read Ron Borges’s take on skipping Hunter or McMillen for someone like Graham….

McMillan is the best WR in the a weak class. He would have at best been the 5th best WR in last years draft.

Hunter is a major ?. He is a generational talent as no player has done what he has done in college. He is determined to play both sides, and if he can play both sides at an elite level that would be worth the #4 pick.

I wouldn't hate Graham at #4. Really want to see what happens post combine and pro days.

 

[mgteich]

Pats don't need another CB but have to pick him if he is there at #4??

???
SIGNED FOR 2025
Gonzalez
M Jones
Bolden
Dial

 

[patman52]

McMillan is the best WR in the a weak class. He would have at best been the 5th best WR in last years draft.

Hunter is a major ?. He is a generational talent as no player has done what he has done in college. He is determined to play both sides, and if he can play both sides at an elite level that would be worth the #4 pick.

I wouldn't hate Graham at #4. Really want to see what happens post combine and pro days.

Your take that he is a generational talent is echoed alot. Now I would take him at 4, but he is not as good at Mcmillian as a wr or as good as Will Johnson as a corner. Now will he develop to be better at either of them at that one position, maybe once he concentrates at that position. My hope is Carter is still there.

 

[slash83]

Do you guys trust Josh to get the best outta him?

 

[Lansdowne]

Your take that he is a generational talent is echoed alot. Now I would take him at 4, but he is not as good at Mcmillian as a wr or as good as Will Johnson as a corner. Now will he develop to be better at either of them at that one position, maybe once he concentrates at that position. My hope is Carter is still there.

That’s my thing with Hunter too. He was athletically gifted enough to play at a high level at both CB and WR, but that’s against college level competition and fewer games played. His value is measured in his versatility but it’s fair to question how sustainable that will be at the professional level against guys who are much faster, stronger, and wiser, and with a longer, more grueling schedule.

He’s certainly got the tools to be a difference maker at whichever position he commits to, but as you said, right now he might not be the best NFL prospect at either position. Yes he won the Heisman but that trophy’s history is littered with guys who didn’t live up to the hype in the pros. He won the Biletnikoff award too which is impressive for someone who didn’t truly break out until his junior year, but like the Heisman we’ve seen plenty of winners who didn’t measure up in the NFL.

Hunter’s value is he played great at both, but that might not matter because he’s unlikely to play extensively enough on both sides of the ball. The last two-way star to win the Heisman was Charles Woodson, and you can argue three-way because he also contributed on special teams as a return man. Came to the NFL and it was strictly defense for him. The biggest mistake in assessing Hunter is expecting him to be two elite players in one. He very well could be elite at one of those positions, but not both, not in the NFL at least. I still think he’d be a great value at #4, but I also doubt he makes it that far and I’m okay with that.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Jalen Carter was the best prospect in 23 draft and he went #9

Only because the world thought he was facing prison time.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

No matter how you shake it, all roads seem to send Graham to Foxboro. I'm ok with this.

InstaGraham?

 

[Huckleberry1]

It'd be amazing if he turned out to be the Shoe Ohtani of the NFL for a few years. The injury exposure is too much to have him playing both sides of the ball for long.

This is the reason I’m going with Graham over Hunter and Carter. The Patriots can’t afford to have whoever they pick missing time due to injury, and although it can happen to anyone I see Graham as the most reliable prospect of the 3. Graham was starting for Michigan as an 18 year old and holding his own. He reminds me of Logan Mankins, except he’s on the D Line. If they end up taking him I think they will get years of high level production out of him. I don’t think they can go wrong with any of the 3, but Graham seems to me like the one they will be able to count on the most.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Only because the world thought he was facing prison time.

Agree completely. As a football player he was a 1st overall caliber of player, as a human being he was an undrafted free agent.

 

[upstater1]

I'm not sure if people in this thread are paying attention to the Senior Bowl, but Graham has been dropping like a rock because he showed off his Dad bod and one of the scouts labeled him the Marshmallow man.

This happens every year. It happened to Brock Bowers last year. If you ever see Bower's body, he looks like he's delivery UPS packages (no offense to UPS drivers).

Graham does not look the part. One thing these GMs try to avoid at all costs is picking an obvious flop with such premium resources. I honestly think they'd rather take Tony Mandarich so they can tell their owners, "Look at him! How could we have known he was going to flop?!?!"

 

[KCSVEN]

I'm not sure if people in this thread are paying attention to the Senior Bowl, but Graham has been dropping like a rock because he showed off his Dad bod and one of the scouts labeled him the Marshmallow man.

This happens every year. It happened to Brock Bowers last year. If you ever see Bower's body, he looks like he's delivery UPS packages (no offense to UPS drivers).

Graham does not look the part. One thing these GMs try to avoid at all costs is picking an obvious flop with such premium resources. I honestly think they'd rather take Tony Mandarich so they can tell their owners, "Look at him! How could we have known he was going to flop?!?!"

That marshmallow man is from earlier in January not from senior bowl, he has similar body concerns as Bresee did coming out of college but not necessarily a negative if he works at it his upside becomes incredible. Everyone still has him in the top 6, he’s not dropping at all.
Graham is a day 1 starter, if he has the work ethic he’s a future all pro, if he’s lazy and not going to work his body he’ll still be a solid player.
That’s why you interview these guys.
On tape he’s a top 5 pick but you need to know his work ethic.