Travis Hunter's fate revealed: Mock draft guru predicts which NFL team will land the Colorado star

Travis Hunter is the NCAA's hottest commodity right now. In the midst of one of the best seasons of his career, the cornerback/receiver is on the radar of almost every NFL team. However, only one will take the Colorado Buffaloes star, and respected analyst Mel Kiper Jr. thinks he knows who it will be.

Hunter has 46 receptions, 561 yards, and six touchdowns in five regular-season games. In his role as cornerback, the Buffaloes star has 18 tackles, three batted es, two interceptions, and has forced one fumble.

With these numbers, it is not surprising that NFL teams are sharpening their weapons right now to try to get Hunter's services. The 2025 draft is still six months away, but that doesn't stop fans and analysts from speculating who will be the lucky team to sign the Buffs' dual threat.

Recently, Kiper, regarded as the creator and guru of mock drafts, went against conventional wisdom by predicting that a team will break trends by taking Hunter with the first pick in the 2025 draft.

Kiper's prophecy

In a recent appearance on ESPN's First Draft, Kiper was blunt when a fan asked which team would take Hunter. "The Carolina Panthers take Travis Hunter," he said without a hint of hesitation.

He then went on to explain that the teams most likely to land the first pick in the draft don't need a quarterback. He noted that the New England Patriots have Drake Maye, while the Panthers have Bryce Young. Maye was the third overall pick in the 2024 Draft, and Young was the number one in 2023.

"Are you going to say we want the new guy?" Kiper asked, referring to a possible new quarterback, "Or do we want to stick with the quarterback we drafted number one overall not that long ago in Bryce Young?"

In this sense, he considered, "Hunter makes a lot of sense for the Panthers. He is a two-way player at Colorado, one of just a few in the entire country, but he plays both wide receiver and corner at such an elite level."

The fate of Travis Hunter

Hunter's talent makes it hard to predict what any team will do with him. Kiper has oscillated between using him only on defense or offense. In his evaluation for First Draft, he said, "I think he looks more natural at corner and it would also give Carolina one of the best young duos at the position, pairing him with Jaycee Horn."

However, in a column for ESPN's website, the seasoned analyst noted, "I really think he has a chance to play both sides of the ball early in his pro career and make an impact both ways, though I'm ranking him as a receiver right now."

Ultimately, Kiper noted that it would be a difficult decision for any head coach. "The offensive and defensive coordinators for the team that ultimately drafts him are going to be battling each other to use him," warned the dean of mock drafts.