INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots feel they’re in a good spot picking fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the selection comes with more uncertainty this spring.
Last year, the Patriots had a pretty good idea that the Bears and Commanders would be taking quarterbacks with the first and second overall picks and that they’d be left to take the third quarterback. That consolation prize — Drake Maye — looked more than worthy of the third overall pick in his rookie season.
The Titans, Browns and Giants are all picking ahead of the Patriots in this year’s draft, and all three teams need quarterbacks, but it’s unclear if the top players at that position — Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders — are worthy of top-five picks. The Patriots should be hoping the Titans, Browns and Giants, or a team picking below them, deem Ward and Sanders are worthy of top-four picks.
Because in an ideal situation, UNC defensive end Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter will be available when the Patriots are picking, or they’ll receive an offer they can’t refuse to trade down.
Hunter is an especially appealing potential pick for the Patriots, though he did say going No. 1 overall would be important to him and one of his dreams. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner could fill two needs as the rare two-way player in today’s league. Hunter played 753 offensive snaps and 776 defensive snaps last season for Colorado.
The former No. 1 recruit caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns last season and registered 36 tackles with four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss in 13 games.
He also played two ways in 2022 at Jackson State and 2023 at Colorado. And he wants to continue at the NFL level.
“Nobody has done it, but I feel like I have put my body through a lot. I do a lot of treatment. People don’t get to see that part,” Hunter said. “What I do for my body to make sure I’m 100 percent each game. I feel like nobody has done it. I know I can do it. I did it at the college level where you don’t really get breaks. There are a lot more breaks in the NFL.”
Hunter said he would push to play 100% of snaps on both sides of the ball but noted, “it’s up to the organization.”
Wide receiver is one of the Patriots’ most notable glaring needs — and one that will be difficult to address through free agency, especially if the Bengals retain Tee Higgins. The Patriots lack a No. 1 receiver in their offense, and even their best wide receivers would ideally fit as No. 3 options. The depth chart currently consists of Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Beyond Higgins, Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper and Stefon Diggs are among the top free-agent wide receivers. There’s no guarantee that the Patriots will be able to trade for a pass-catcher either. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, whom Hunter called his toughest matchup this season, is expected to be the next receiver off the board after Hunter.
And although cornerback isn’t regarded to be as great of a need for the Patriots as wide receiver, offensive tackle, defensive tackle or edge rusher, it is a sneakily one of the biggest areas the team must address this offseason. Christian Gonzalez looks on his way to be a perennial All-Pro, but behind him, Marcus Jones is undersized, Miles Battle, Isiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial and Alex Austin are inexperienced, and Jonathan Jones is a free agent.
Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf believes Hunter will need to specialize in one position.
“Travis Hunter is a tremendous prospect, as a number of these guys are,” Wolf said Thursday. “He’s obviously been very unique, won the Heisman Trophy playing both ways. He’s really unique and instinctive at both positions. So I think there’s a scenario where, you know, he’s probably going to major in one and minor in the other, but I think there’s a scenario where he could play both ways.”
Hunter said he’ll work out at both wide receiver and cornerback at the combine, but he won’t participate in testing drills. Assuming a team won’t want to play him 100% of offensive and defensive snaps, then Hunter would probably play in certain third-down situations on offense if he starts at cornerback or on defense if he starts at wide receiver.
The Patriots currently need a wide receiver more, but it would still be a difficult choice on where to play him the majority of snaps since his best position in the long-term might be at cornerback.
If the Patriots are in position to select Hunter, however, that’s a champagne problem and one they would likely gladly accept.