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Patriots projected to take Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter in early mock draft
Hunter is seen as the frontrunner for college football's most prestigious individual award.
Begun the mock draft wars have: With the Patriots set for another losing season — currently tied with the Jets at 3-10 for last place in the division — much of the attention has long since turned toward future-focused subjects.
Specifically, fans wonder what pick the Patriots will have in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and who New England might select given such a prized opportunity. The avalanche of mock drafts haven’t fully started, but ESPN’s Field Yates took an early swing on Wednesday, releasing his 1.0 version.
In it, Yates has the Patriots ending up with the third overall pick (though he noted that the order was based merely on the standings through Week 14). More importantly, he projects that New England will select Colorado superstar Travis Hunter.
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Hunter, 21, plays both wide receiver and cornerback for Deion Sanders’ team. Hunter was actually with Sanders at his previous stop (Jackson State), becoming the first five-star recruit to sign with an HBCU (as well as an FCS school). He transferred to Colorado to stay with Sanders in 2023.
In 2024, he’s put together an incredible season. Through 12 games, he has 92 receptions for 1,152 receiving yards, scoring 15 touchdowns (14 through the air, one as a rusher). He also has four interceptions playing for the defense, rounding out one of the more remarkable statistical achievements in recent college football memory.
“The most electric player in the class and top-ranked prospect on my board, Hunter offers difference-making ability on both sides of the ball,” wrote Yates. “He has rare acceleration and high-end playmaking traits as a receiver, but I also see lockdown cover skills — including elite ball skills and instincts — as a cornerback.”
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Whether NFL teams will want him to play for both the offense and defense remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that Hunter would immediately inject more dynamism into a Patriots offense that has been devoid of consistent playmakers for years.
With rookie quarterback Drake Maye showing his ability (if not consistency) in his first season in the NFL, the idea of adding Hunter would be a tantalizing one for the Patriots’ front office.
And, as Yates pointed out, Hunter could end up solving multiple roster problems in one draft pick.
“The Patriots have a significant need at left tackle, so targeting someone such as Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. is at least a conversation,” Yates acknowledged. “But once factoring in holes at both receiver and the cornerback spot opposite of Christian Gonzalez, Hunter is too good to pass up.”
Hunter is currently the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, while his teammate (Sanders’s son), Shedeur Sanders, is also projected to go high in the 2025 draft. Yates has him going No. 1 overall to the Giants.
Trivia: Three Patriots recorded regular seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards during the 1990s. Can you name them?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: One player did it twice (1996, 1999). The other two did it in 1991 and 1994.
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Scores and schedules:
The Bruins were routed 8-1 by the Jets in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. Boston will have to regroup in time for tomorrow’s game in Seattle against the Kraken at 10 p.m.
The Celtics will be at home tomorrow night against the Pistons at 7:30 p.m.
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- Besides drafting Drake Maye, the Patriots had an ‘F-minus’ offseason, Bill Simmons says
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Gronk’s take on Belichick as a college coach: Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski shared his view on the possibility of Bill Belichick filling the coaching vacancy at the University of North Carolina.
On this day: In 2001, the Celtics overcame the Knicks 102-93 in overtime thanks in large part to Antoine Walker erupting for 42 points (coming within a rebound and an assist of a triple-double).
Elsewhere, the Red Sox closed in on a deal to trade outfielder Carl Everett. He wound up in Texas in a one-for-one swap for reliever Darren Oliver.
Daily highlight: Goga Bitadze and Giannis Antetokounmpo traded dunks on each other in Tuesday’s NBA Cup matchup.
Goga and Giannis dunking on each other😤😤pic.twitter.com/is4tjVYBaq
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 11, 2024
Trivia answer: Irving Fryar (1991), Ben Coates (1994), Terry Glenn (1996, 1999)
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