No players have sparked more debate about their positions in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft than Colorado Buffalo standouts Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. Both have enjoyed stellar seasons in Boulder, elevating their draft stock to be considered early picks in Round 1. But which of the outstanding talents will be chosen first?
Travis Hunter vs. Shedeur Sanders: Who Will Be Colorado’s First Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Most NFL Draft analysts project Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward as the first overall pick by the Tennessee Titans, and Penn State edge Abdul Carter as a top-four pick.
The real debate, however, rages over where Hunter, the gifted dual-threat wide receiver and defensive back, and Sanders, the highlight-reel quarterback with huge upside, will fall in the first round. Both have been touted as top-four picks.
In my three-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft on “College Sports Network” three weeks ago, I predicted Sanders to be picked up by the Cleveland Browns at No.2, and Hunter to be selected by the New England Patriots at No.4. With a week to go before the first round opens in Green Bay, Wi., I’m not so sure.
Deion Sanders’ son caught the eye in 2024 with his on-field statistics, passing for 37 touchdowns and 4,134 yards with an impressive 74% completion rate and ability to extend plays.
His ability to process coverage and work through progressions while on the move also drew praise from NFL scouts. However, some observers have perceived his confidence as arrogance, and the media circus that follows him makes some teams uneasy.
Sanders’ ability to lead a faltering program will appeal to many NFL teams, though. With his father and Hunter, he revitalised the Jackson State Tigers into a nationally respected HBCU program.
On transferring to Colorado, which had posted a miserable 1-11 record the year before his arrival, he led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record last year, his second with the program, their first winning season in seven years.
Hunter’s unique talent as a game-changer on both offense and defense makes him a difficult prospect to overlook for NFL teams desperate for a spark on either side of the ball.
The dual-threat emerging star finished the 2024 season with eye-popping statistics both as a wide receiver and a cornerback. He caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards, scoring 15 touchdowns on offense. On defense, he recorded 36 tackles, four interceptions, and 10 pass breakups.
Considered the No.1 overall high school prospect in the 2021 recruiting class by “Rivals” and “247Sports”. Having flipped his commitment from the Florida State Seminoles to Jackson State, his transfer to Colorado saw his stock rise even higher.
He became the only player in college football history to win both the Fred Biletnikoff Award, as the nation’s best receiver, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, awarded to the best defensive player in the nation.
While the elevated value most NFL teams place on the quarterback position might give Sanders the edge in being picked above Hunter, Colorado’s quarterback is ranked behind Ward, who is considered the top signal-caller available.
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Some analysts have also projected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart potentially being taken above Sanders as the second passer off the board, which would push him further down the first round.
Hunter’s unique skill as a two-way threat sets him apart from other draft athletes. No player in college football history has matched his output on both sides of the ball. His stamina and versatility mean he can make an immediate impact on both offense and defense for a struggling team.
Interviewed on “Run It Back” on “FanDuel TV”, former Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer believes Hunter will not only be picked above his Colorado teammate, but feels he should be the first overall pick.
“It would be hard for me not to take Travis Hunter with that first pick,” Meyer argued. “I think he’s a once-in-a-generation, once-in-a-lifetime player. He can do things I’ve not seen other people do.”
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