New favorite emerges to draft Travis Hunter

Travis Hunter is emerging as the most likely choice for a new team in the NFL Draft.

There is a growing belief around the NFL that Hunter will go No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe notes that the Browns have been high on Hunter throughout the pre-draft process, and have not seen anything to dissuade them from that stance.

Jason Lloyd of The Athletic had previously reported that the Browns “genuinely like” Hunter. They believe the player’s two-way prowess could allow him to fill two needs at once.

Notably, Cleveland GM Andrew Berry said during the NFL Combine that the Browns view Hunter as a wide receiver first. NFL teams are mixed on how they evaluate Hunter, but many teams view him as a better fit at cornerback. Few doubt that Hunter has the talent to pull double duty, but many are skeptical that he can handle both positions at a high level.

The Browns might be the best landing spot for Hunter based on his stated preference to play on both sides of the ball. Cleveland could use a cornerback and a wide receiver. If they are seriously willing to let Hunter do both, it could be beneficial to both of them, albeit risky.

As much as the Browns like Hunter, there remains some uncertainty about his landing spot. The team was rumored to be leaning in a different direction at No. 2 not long ago, but that may not be the case.