The Colorado Buffaloes dual-star stinger and former No. 1 overall recruit, Travis Hunter moves at a different speed. The receiver/corner threat had been linked with this AFC team with $7.4B in the bank and the 4th overall pick in the 2025 draft. After a brief showcase with just interviews in Indy at the NFL Combine, Hunter will be back with a bang with the Buffs jersey after a while in the Big 10 Pro Day on March 19.

The buzz surrounding his potential landing spot has only intensified, with one recent mock draft from Fox Sports’ Geoff Schwartz adding more fuel to the fire. Schwartz, appearing on First Things First alongside Nick Wright and Kevin Wildes, laid out a bold scenario—one that sees the New York Giants trading up to the No. 1 spot for Cam Ward, while Travis Hunter falls to the team sitting at No. 4 at New England Patriots.

“All right, number four, still my beating heart… what are we going to do at defense, what are we going to do at offense?” Schwartz teased. He pointed out that this team could play Hunter as a pure cornerback, forming a fearsome duo with their current top CB, Christian Gonzalez.

Or, they could unleash him as a WR1, letting him torch defenses with the kind of breakaway speed that turns routine plays into touchdowns. “He’s really good. Like, he’s a—whenever you watch him, go put on his highlights on YouTube, wherever you want to find them. When he catches that football, no one catches him on the football field,” Schwartz said, before dropping a comparison that speaks volumes: “It’s like Reggie Bush.”

Travis Hunter’s tape showcases an athlete who simply outclasses everyone else on the field, shifting gears effortlessly as if he’s playing in fast-forward while everyone else lags behind. His ability to track the ball in coverage and create separation as a receiver makes him one of the most versatile prospects the draft has seen in years. The question isn’t whether he’ll be a star—it’s how a team will choose to use him. It’s a concept that hasn’t been explored at the NFL level since Deion Sanders, and the irony of Hunter being coached by Coach Prime himself at Colorado only adds to the intrigue.

They’ve spent the offseason focusing on defense, leaving their offense in desperate need of artillery. Patriots insider Mark Daniels highlighted the issue, emphasizing that if Hunter isn’t available, they’ll need to pivot quickly. The next best options? Texas speedster Matthew Golden, who blazed a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, and Arizona’s 6’5″ smooth-moving Tetairoa McMillan.

Both would provide the much-needed size and explosiveness required, giving incoming QB1 Drake Maye a legitimate target. “If the Patriots aren’t able to land Travis Hunter, the next best guys would be Golden or McMillan,” Daniels noted. And considering the state of their receiver room—one of the weakest in the NFL—finding playmakers has to be a top priority. At this stage, the Patriots’ draft strategy remains fluid. Would they really pass up an offensive lineman at No. 4? Would they double down on defense and secure a Hunter-Gonzalez lockdown duo? Or would they roll the dice and take a receiver in a class stacked with talent?

“They could view him as a wide receiver and just put him in their 1A and just let him be their WR1.” If that happens, Travis Hunter would enter the league with the expectation of being the guy in offense in a team that desperately needs one. But if he’s gone, they’ll have to settle for the best available playmaker, hoping that Maye can develop a connection with a rookie who may not carry Hunter’s once-in-a-generation upside. One thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on Colorado’s Pro Day on March 19, where Hunter and 12 of his Buffs teammates will have the chance to impress NFL scouts.

Travis Hunter Ready to Uplift His Teammates on Pro Day

Hunter knows that not every NFL hopeful gets the golden ticket to the Combine, but that doesn’t mean their journey ends there. While speaking on his podcast Wednesday, the two-way superstar emphasized how Pro Day presents a major opportunity for players looking to prove themselves in front of scouts.

“Now it’s time for the dogs to show what they do. Some of the guys went to the Pro Day,” Hunter said. (5:48). For Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, Jimmy Horn Jr, and 10 others, the spotlight isn’t new—they’ve already experienced the pressure of big-time evaluations. But for their teammates? This is their moment to shine.

“I mean, in the combine—so it was good for Tray, Jimmy, me, and Shedeur. We’re kind of used to it; we already know what to expect, so we’re good with that. That means we can help out the other guys at the school for the Pro Day,” he added.

Hunter hasn’t revealed whether he’ll participate in drills, but he’s committed to mentoring his teammates and keeping them calm under pressure. Scouts from top NFL franchises are expected to attend—including, possibly, Patriots GM Eliot Wolf. Let’s see if he will be there or not.