If the top of the NFL Draft unfolds the way most experts predict, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be facing the Heisman Trophy winner — and an unprecedented two-way talent — two times a season.
The AFC North-rival Cleveland Browns are projected to take Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick. Hunter could get the nod over Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter.
With one pick, the Browns could fill two openings on their roster. Hunter is viewed as the top cornerback in the draft as well as a starting-caliber wide receiver.
Hunter is the type of player the NFL hasn’t seen since Charles Woodson played on both sides of the ball nearly three decades ago. Woodson, though, didn’t log the number of snaps that Hunter did last season at Colorado.
“I don’t think we’ve given him enough credit for what he’s done,” former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. “I’m not saying he’s Michael Jordan, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s highly transformational. I believe he’s a once-in-a-generation player.”
In addition to the Heisman, Hunter won virtually every major award in his junior season with the Buffaloes when he had a team-high four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just one touchdown and 23 catches on 41 targets.
On the other side of the ball, he caught 15 touchdown passes on 96 receptions for 1,258 yards.
“We haven’t seen something like this, someone who wants to do everything on both sides,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “I don’t think I would do that initially. I think you have to major and minor. Historically, if you have a player that has value there, he’s been a full-time defensive player with a package of plays on offense.”
Jeremiah wants the team that drafts Hunter to flip the script and use him primarily at wide receiver.
“I think he’s more valuable to your team on offense right now,” he said. “I think he’s further developed on offense. He touches the ball more. He just makes more of an impact. I’m going to have him as a full-time starter at receiver. We’ll start there for a while, and then we can start maybe incorporating him into some defensive packages — if that’s your dime, your nickel.”
Hunter is one of the few cornerbacks in the class that comes without question marks. Michigan’s Will Johnson is the consensus No. 2 corner in the group, but he was limited to six games last year because of a turf toe injury. He skipped a pro day workout because of a balky hamstring, and he didn’t run the 40-yard dash at a private workout last week.
“I didn’t think speed was a problem for him on tape,” ESPN’s Field Yates said. “He’s a ball hawk. … I still think he’s a top-10 player.”
Johnson allowed a completion percentage rate of 53 and had nine interceptions with seven pass breakups during his career at Michigan.
“He is central casting for what you want a corner to look like,” Jeremiah said. “He is tall, rangy, a fluid athlete, a fluid mover. He’s got really good eyes and excellent ball skills. That is where you start. That’s a really good foundation.”
Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison was on track to be a first-round pick until he missed the final 10 games of his junior season with a hip injury. He held a private workout earlier this week to convince teams that the injury was behind him.
“It’s going to get down to the medical with him,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said. “There are a ton of guys with injury concerns in this draft, more than recent years. I’d feel comfortable (getting Morrison in the second round). I think you’re getting a first-round talent if he’s healthy.”