Every few years, a prospect comes along who forces NFL front offices to rethink everything they know about drafting. In 2025, that player isn’t just a star; he’s a phenomenon. This year Travis Hunter was the generational talent while taking home the Heisman Trophy with his two-way escapades. The kind of athlete who turns mock drafts into battlegrounds and fans into scouts. The debate isn’t about whether he’s great—it’s whether teams are willing to reshape their future around him. Especially for this $6 billion NFL side, where OBJ last had an impactful time.

Travis Hunter, the 2-way unicorn en route to becoming the Colorado Buffs’ first-ever No. 1 draft pick. Hunter’s ability to dominate on both sides of the field—a skill set not seen since the days of Deion Sanders—has set him apart from the crowded field of elite prospects. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. dropped jaws this week when he predicted the Cleveland Browns might select Hunter with the 2 overall pick, passing up his Buffs QB1 teammate Shedeur Sanders. “They could address quarterback issues in other ways,” Kiper remarked, though not without leaving room for debate. For a team in flux, it’s a choice that could either define their franchise or haunt them for years.

But the Browns may not even get the chance to draft Hunter. The Tennessee Titans hold the first overall pick. And according to Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker, the plan is clear. “We won’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick in the draft,” Brinker told reporters. If those words are as ironclad as they sound, the Titans are eyeing Hunter to anchor their franchise. The only wrinkle?

Boston journalist Todd McShay pointed out there’s another generational player in this class—Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter. “If I’m not sold on the quarterbacks, I’m taking Carter,” McShay said during ‘The McShay Show’. He doubled down, emphasizing that Carter’s dominance in the trenches is the kind of safe, long-term investment teams rarely regret.

The argument boils down to philosophy. Carter is the kind of pass rusher who can change games and elevate a defense overnight. Teams never go broke drafting elite edge rushers, and McShay was quick to highlight that. “Let’s build the trenches,” he said. “You take Carter, and you’re getting profit in the draft. He’s going to better your football team in probably the second most important area on your roster.” But Hunter’s uniqueness makes him impossible to ignore. In a league obsessed with versatility, Hunter represents a blueprint for the future.

For the Browns, they’ve been linked to Hunter in recent weeks, but passing on him with the second pick could open the door for another team to swoop in. While Kiper’s mock draft leans toward Hunter in Cleveland, McShay’s analysis points to other priorities. It’s a decision that highlights the delicate balancing act between upside and need. With quarterback issues still lingering, some argue that drafting Sanders could be the more immediate fix. But Hunter offers something different—a once-in-a-generation chance to revolutionize a roster.

The Titans, meanwhile, seem laser-focused on their pick, but even that clarity brings its own challenges. Selecting Hunter would mean bypassing the safer, more traditional option in Carter. It’s a risk worth taking. And for a franchise that hasn’t had a transcendent talent since the days of Steve McNair, the allure of adding someone as electrifying as Hunter might be too tempting to resist.

The Titans and Browns are at the center of what promises to be one of the most fascinating drafts in recent memory. The debate will only intensify. Hunter’s rise has already shifted the conversation from “what if” to “how soon,” and his numbers—15 TDs and 4 interceptions—don’t lie.

Travis Hunter had analysts switch up picks

As for Hunter? Well, things got a little wild midweek. His odds took a dive to +140 on Wednesday after some intriguing comments from Titans executive Brinker stirred the pot. But if you ask Mel Kiper, the Browns might just have their eyes set on something—someone—special.

“Hunter is just that good,” Kiper wrote, not holding back on the praise. “I see elite quickness and ba-l skills on both sides of the ba-l, traits that helped him rack up 15 touchdown catches and snag four interceptions this season.” According to Kiper, the Browns could primarily utilize Hunter as a receiver while also sprinkling him in as a cornerback in key moments. A dual-threat weapon? Yes, please.

This marks a shift from earlier mock drafts that had the Browns eyeing Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter. Meanwhile, Kiper projects the Giants to snag Sanders at No. 3.