A two-way phenom who plays cornerback like Deion Sanders and catches passes like Randy Moss. Now imagine that player landing in Nashville, where the Titans haven’t picked first overall since 2016. The ghosts of draft busts (cough Jake Locker cough) still haunt this franchise, but GM Mike Borgonzi and President Chad Brinker are staring down a choice that could redefine Tennessee football. Do they swing for the fences with a unicorn talent or play it safe? Grab your hot chicken and settle in—this isn’t your granddaddy’s NFL draft.

On February 28, NFL Insider Tom Pelissero dropped a bombshell on the Rich Eisen Show: “Travis Hunter is probably the one we’ve talked about the least. I’ve seen all the mock drafts with Abdul Carter going number one. I’ve seen all of the quarterback speculation, namely with Cam Ward… but Travis Hunter is more than a cornerback. This guy could be the closest thing that we’ve seen in terms of a two-way player since Deion Sanders.” Now, the Titans, holding the #1 pick, face a fork in the road…

Draft Hunter—a CB/WR hybrid with Heisman-winning swagger—or trade down for a haul of picks to fix their roster. “You only get one swing at these things,” Pelissero warned, hinting at the pressure on Tennessee’s new regime. Brinker’s mantra?

“We won’t pass on a generational talent.” But Hunter isn’t a QB, and in a league where signal-callers go #1 44% of the time (39 out of 89), this feels like ordering a salad at a steakhouse. But here’s the rub: Will Levis isn’t the guy, and free-agent QBs like Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers are Band-Aids, not saviors. Prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders?

Pelissero summed it up: “I don’t know that there’s a quarterback or any position player that people are just going to clamor for.” Translation: This QB class lacks sizzle. Meanwhile, Hunter’s combine performance turned heads. “I’ve been hearing he’s been blowing them away,” said The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. At Colorado, he racked up 1,258 receiving yards and 4 interceptions in 2024. But drafting a two-way player #1? Many would say, that’s like using a Ferrari to plow fields—flashy, but is it practical?

Enter the Giants. GM Joe Schoen was spotted huddling with Borgonzi at the combine, sparking rumors of a blockbuster trade. CBS Sports’ mock draft has Tennessee swapping #1 for #3, landing pass-rusher Abdul Carter while the Giants snag Ward. “The Titans still take Carter in the top 3 to strengthen their pass rush,” wrote Kyle Stackpole. But dropping two spots risks losing Hunter, who Pelissero called “transformational.” It’s a high-stakes game of musical chairs—miss your seat, and you’re stuck rebuilding for years. But HC Brian Callahan already seems to have a plan for Hunter…

Start at corner, then interject him into the offense. Think Charles Woodson with a dash of Tyreek Hill. But NFL history isn’t kind to two-way experiments. The last CB taken #1? You would find it difficult to think of one in the modern era. Can Hunter handle Prime Time’s shadow?

Chad Brinker’s blueprint: generational talent or trade bait?

Brinker’s playbook is clear: “Rebuild this roster and build it back up again.” That means targeting “trench players” in free agency and hoarding draft capital. “[We’re] open for business,” he told, confirming trade talks. But patience is key. “We’re going to try to make the right decisions for the Titans and not to panic and be frivolous,” Brinker stressed, even as fans clamor for a QB. His priority?

“The right type of players”—tough, smart, and dependable. Translation: Hunter’s versatility fits the mold, but so does Carter’s edge-rushing ferocity. The Titans faithful are split. Draft Hunter, and you sell hope—jerseys, tickets, and a highlight reel for the new $2.1 billion stadium.

Trade down and you stockpile picks like a Black Friday shopper to actually repair all the leaks in the roof. But as Brinker noted, “We’ve got to make the right decision.” Remember 2016? Tennessee traded #1 to the Rams, netting picks that turned into Derrick Henry and Kevin Byard. Replicating that magic requires nerves of steel. Hence, Borgonzi’s resume hangs in the balance.

Since 2000, only two #1 picks have been traded. The last? 2016. Making that move would be a risky break from tradition. Meanwhile, snagging Hunter would break the pick-a-QB-first tradition. But as Pelissero said, “Hunter is more than a cornerback.” For a team with the NFL’s worst record, playing it safe might be the riskiest move. The Titans’ decision is a Rorschach test—do they see a franchise cornerstone in Hunter or a trade chip?

Brinker’s rebuild hinges on this pick, and the ghosts of drafts past won’t quiet easily. Hunter himself put it bluntly at the combine: “If they give me the opportunity… I’m going to play both sides.” In a league obsessed with specialization, that’s heresy. But as Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” So, Titans fans: Do you ride with the unicorn or play the odds? The clock’s ticking.