The Colorado Buffaloes have never had a player selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. This year they have two candidates.
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders are both projected to be taken early, according to national experts. If either is taken with the top pick, it’ll break the Buffs’ mark of No. 2 overall held by running back Bo Matthews, who was selected by the Chargers in 1974.
Hunter, who plays both receiver and cornerback, has a chance to be the highest CU player picked at the two positions. Michael Westbrook became the highest selected receiver when he was chosen at No. 4 by Washington in 1995. And Mark Haynes is CU’s top cornerback selection at No. 8 in 1980 by the Giants.
Here’s a look at where national draftniks think Hunter will land in the draft.
CBS Sports | Mike Renner | Updated Jan. 14
No. 3 to New York Giants: “The Giants could use both a wide receiver and a corner, so why not take the most uniquely qualified prospect in NFL history to play both. Travis Hunter’s tape comes with a constant asterisk that he hasn’t come off the field the entire game, and it’s scary to think how he’ll perform with some rest.” See the full mock draft.
ESPN | Jordan Reid | Updated Jan. 7
No. 3 to New York Giants: “One of the worst positions to be in as an NFL team is having dire need of a first-round franchise QB while the best options are off the board. This is where the Giants would be — there isn’t another QB worthy of a top-10 selection right now. But they do have the chance to draft the best player in the class in Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner and two-way star.
“Hunter is capable of making impact plays on both sides of the ball, as he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense while picking off four passes on defense. Hunter could give the Giants another receiving threat opposite Malik Nabers or help at corner … or maybe both.” See the full mock draft.
Pro Football Network | Alan Goldsher | Updated Jan. 14
No. 4 to New England Patriots: “If the New England Patriots had landed at the No. 1 spot, there’s a good chance they would’ve snatched up Travis Hunter, so on a certain level, this would be a dream come true for Drake Maye, Eliot Wolf, and Mike Vrabel. In Hunter, they’ll get a much-needed jolt of star power on a team crying out for some zhush.” See the full mock draft.
The Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | Updated Jan. 14
No. 1 to Tennessee Titans: “The Titans will find it difficult to go in a different direction because of Hunter’s immense rare talent on both sides of the ball. He can play impact cover man in their defense and also provide some extra punch in the passing game when needed.” See the full mock draft.
Yahoo! Sports | Nate Tice and Charles McDonald | Updated Jan. 12
No. 3 to New York Giants: “After seeing QBs get picked off in front of them, the Giants instead veer toward star power. Hunter is an excellent athlete and has a rare feel for the cornerback position. With Malik Nabers already showing off his star potential at receiver, there’s no need to overwhelm Hunter as a two-way player right away. He could instead put a young defensive backfield over the top (Hunter, Dru Phillips and a hopefully reinvigorated Deonte Banks could be something special as a trio) and carve out a role as a package player on offense, bringing even more explosive play ability to a team that — here it comes — would just be a quarterback from being really interesting.” See the full mock draft.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.