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NFL draft rumors: Why Travis Hunter to Browns is looking 'more likely'
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- NFL draft rumors: Why Travis Hunter to Browns is looking 'more likely'
With the Tennessee Titans widely expected to take Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, all eyes are on what the Cleveland Browns will do with the draft's No. 2 selection.
While ESPN's Adam Schefter acknowledged the Browns "might" take Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the second pick, Cleveland appears to be focusing elsewhere with the selection.
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"I believe Travis Hunter is the more likely pick at [No.] 2 today," Schefter said in a Monday episode of his self-titled podcast.
Hunter is considered by some to be the best overall player in the 2025 NFL draft class. The two-way star played both at receiver and cornerback for Colorado and won the Heisman after posting 96 catches, 1,258 receiving yards, 15 receiving touchdowns, 36 tackles and four interceptions during his final season with the Buffaloes.
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Schefter noted the Browns' seeming preference for Hunter stemmed largely from two factors. The first?
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"The Cleveland Browns watched [Hunter] on Friday at his pro day and they saw somebody who could move like nobody else," Schefter explained.
Additionally, Hunter would bring the Browns "star power" at receiver, which Schefter believes would be his top position should the 21-year-old land in Cleveland.
"I think he could play two ways for them, but I think they may think of him more as a receiver than a cornerback," Schefter detailed.
Schefter also noted that the Browns' preferences for the No. 2 overall pick has shifted throughout the draft process. Originally, Cleveland had planned to use it on a quarterback. However, the prospect the team wanted isn't expected to be on the board with the selection.
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"They wanted Cam Ward ," Schefter said. "Cam Ward isn't going to be there at No. 2."
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As such, Schefter cautioned against writing the Hunter pick in pen with more than two weeks left until the draft officially begins.
"Who knows if and when it will shift again before the draft," Schefter said of Cleveland's strategy with the No. 2 pick.
But for now, it's looking like Hunter may be the first non-quarterback off the board in 2025.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL draft rumors: Travis Hunter trending toward being No. 2 pick?
