Discovering the Travis Hunter, two-way menace for each NFL workforce
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NFL Nation
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded as much as choose WR/CB Travis Hunter No. 2 within the 2025 NFL draft in April. Hunter entered the NFL making an attempt to do what few different have performed earlier than him — play each offense and protection on a full-time foundation. Whereas the Jaguars are nonetheless making an attempt to determine the previous Heisman winner’s workload within the NFL, Hunter’s versatility is revered across the league.
In honor of Hunter’s first look on “Monday Evening Soccer” towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), we requested our 32 NFL reporters to search out the very best participant on each workforce who might have the talents to be a two-way participant. Many performed a number of positions in faculty or have been utilized in a couple of spot already within the NFL. Some picks may shock you.
Let’s begin within the AFC:
Soar to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
The Payments haven’t got a participant that at present performs each side of the ball, however Thompson, who joined the workforce this offseason, has loads of expertise doing so. Whereas in faculty at Washington, Thompson performed each linebacker and working again and gained the Paul Hornung Award, which honors the nation’s most versatile participant. He was additionally drafted by the Boston Pink Sox within the 2012 MLB draft and performed briefly within the minor leagues as a centerfielder. — Alaina Getzenberg
FB Alec Ingold
Ingold was the Gatorade Participant of the 12 months in Wisconsin as a quarterback for Bay Port Excessive Faculty throughout his senior 12 months, throwing for 1,384 yards and 16 touchdowns whereas including one other 2,322 yards and 29 touchdowns on the bottom. Ingold initially dedicated to play quarterback for Northern Illinois earlier than flipping to Wisconsin, the place he briefly performed linebacker earlier than transferring to working again/fullback.
Bonus: Security Minkah Fitzpatrick is another choice right here; he totaled 1,570 whole yards of offense in highschool, together with 887 receiving and 683 dashing, all whereas growing right into a five-star cornerback on the opposite aspect of the ball. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
CB Marcus Jones
Named All-Professional as a punt returner in his 2022 rookie season, Jones’ main place was slot cornerback, however the teaching workers additionally combined him in on offense at instances to attempt to make the most of his elusive motion with the soccer in his fingers (4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD). He performed 18 offensive snaps as a rookie, after which after enjoying only one offensive snap in an injury-shortened 2023 season, Jones noticed 5 snaps on offense in 2024. He has but to play on offense this 12 months. — Mike Reiss
Stephens was an all-state working again in Texas, the place he rushed for 1,389 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in highschool. He went to UCLA as a working again, however performed sparingly and determined to modify to cornerback. He transferred to SMU, the place he established himself as nook and bought drafted by the Ravens. “I all the time had a love for the place,” he stated, including that cornerback was “my calling.” — Wealthy Cimini
AFC NORTH
Ricard was a trailblazer in 2019 when he turned the primary NFL participant in a decade to play over 100 snaps on offense and protection in the identical season, lining up at fullback and defensive sort out. He hasn’t performed protection in six seasons, however he has developed right into a five-time Professional Bowl fullback. Initially a defensive lineman on the College of Maine, Ricard garnered the nickname “Mission Pat” with the Ravens when he began to separate time at fullback. — Jamison Hensley
LB Logan Wilson
Wilson did all of it as a highschool standout in Wyoming, incomes all-state honors at each defensive again and vast receiver. As a senior, he had 493 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. As a defensive again, he had six interceptions. Oh, and Wilson punted, too. The diploma of issue within the NFL is way larger than it’s in Wyoming, but it surely’s enjoyable to consider what the sixth-year professional Wilson might have appeared like as a two-way athlete, particularly early in his NFL profession. — Ben Child
DT/FB Adin Huntington
The undrafted rookie out of Tulane made the workforce largely due to his versatility. Huntington, 6-foot-1 and 281 kilos, has performed 61 snaps on protection, and the offense has borrowed him for 17 snaps as a fullback in its jumbo packages (Huntington can also be a mainstay on particular groups). Cleveland has a 58.8% success charge on performs — this is able to be the best within the NFL — with Huntington on the sphere. “He provides us a cellular, massive blocking man that may assist us push the pile ahead … he is constructed like an enormous fullback,” left guard Joel Bitonio stated. — Daniel Oyefusi
CB Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey might have been the unique Travis Hunter. In highschool at Brentwood Academy in Tennessee, Ramsey was a cornerback, receiver and working again. Ramsey dropped his offensive obligations in faculty at Florida State, however at 6-1 and 208 kilos, the bodily Swiss Military knife of a participant undoubtedly might have performed on each side of the ball if given the possibility — particularly contemplating his versatility within the Steelers’ secondary this season. And whereas in highschool, he additionally gained a state championship within the decathlon and set a Tennessee state document within the lengthy bounce. — Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
Stingley’s coaches have labeled his ball expertise as a number of the finest at his place. He has recorded 10 interceptions previously two seasons, together with his first one of many 12 months towards the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. Whereas enjoying highschool soccer in Louisiana, Stingley performed wideout and had a 99-yard landing. He has premier top-end velocity, so he might play each methods if the Texans ever wanted. — DJ Bien-Aime
There are few gamers on the roster extra bodily than Pittman, and he carries traits that would make him excel on the linebacker place. He’s a relentless blocker on working performs and is fortunately an enforcer when dustups occur. Final week, whereas speaking about enjoying via a fractured bone in his again in the course of the 2024 season, he reveled in his improved well being this season. Pittman stated, “I simply get up and I am like, ‘How reckless can I be with out hurting myself immediately?'” Does that sound like a man you need to be tackled by? — Stephen Holder
WR/CB Travis Hunter
Hunter (who has embraced the moniker “the unicorn”) has performed 58% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps and 38% of the defensive snaps, and he is second on the workforce with 13 catches (one forward of vast receiver Brian Thomas Jr.). He is one in all simply 4 gamers previously 25 years to play 15 snaps on offense and protection in the identical recreation. Hunter performed a season-high 81 snaps in Week 2 towards the Bengals and 79 snaps the week after, however his whole dipped to 45 in Week 4, so he has but to hit the 100-snap mark. At Colorado, enjoying below Deion Sanders, who additionally performed two positions within the NFL at instances, Hunter averaged 113.5 snaps per recreation. — Michael DiRocco
Mullings performed two seasons at linebacker for Michigan earlier than switching to working again his junior 12 months. As a sophomore, Mullings appeared in 13 video games on particular groups and at linebacker, registering 11 tackles. Mullings has stated his time enjoying linebacker has helped him on offense, giving him a singular “linebacker mentality” and a really feel for what the opponent will do on the defensive aspect of the sport. Particular groups contributions had been an enormous a part of why Mullings, a sixth-round draft decide, made the Titans’ roster. — Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
The Broncos have some candidates, on condition that vast receiver Courtland Sutton was a two-sport athlete at SMU (he performed on the varsity’s basketball workforce) and that reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months Pat Surtain II has made it no secret that he has tried to persuade coach Sean Payton to play him at vast receiver as nicely.
However when Hufanga was at Crescent Valley Excessive Faculty in Corvallis, Oregon, there have been recruiting providers that had him rated the No. 1 “athlete” within the nation due to his work on each side of the ball as a runner, receiver, quarterback and security. In his ultimate two prep seasons, Hufanga had a mixed seven interceptions on protection to go along with 24 dashing touchdowns, 11 receiving touchdowns and 7 landing passes on offense. — Jeff Legwold
We already know Mahomes is likely one of the most-talented quarterbacks, however he was additionally a artful security at Whitehouse Excessive Faculty in Texas throughout his sophomore season. He led the Wildcats with a team-high 5 interceptions, incomes all-district honors. Mahomes has the athletic potential and ball expertise to be an efficient security. The lone challenge is that he by no means cherished tackling in highschool — so that might be his clear weak spot on the scouting report. — Nate Taylor
The Raiders’ rookie can be the most secure wager to play two positions. Porter was a large receiver in highschool and performed the place for 3 seasons at Iowa State earlier than making the change to defensive again in 2022. If given the chance, Porter stated he would not thoughts enjoying each positions. “That is less than me. I will do it, however we’ll see,” he stated. — Ryan McFadden FB/DT Scott Matlock Matlock is the one participant in a grey jersey at Chargers follow, making certain he can change from offense to protection with out complicated anybody. Matlock is important to the Chargers’ offense; the workforce might have him one-on-one with an opponent’s finest edge rusher or catching a move out of the backfield. On protection, he’s a rotational participant on the inside and had a sack final season. — Kris Rhim CB Trevon Diggs Diggs opened his faculty profession at Alabama as a large receiver and caught 11 passes for 88 yards and a landing as a freshman. His ball expertise have been on show his whole professional profession — though he has simply three interceptions in his previous 17 video games. With CeeDee Lamb out, the Cowboys appear to be OK at receiver, however perhaps in a pinch Diggs would assist. Bonus: Working again Javonte Williams was a tackling machine in highschool, so linebacker is in his repertoire — Todd Archer QB Jaxson Dart Have you ever seen Dart play? It is a participant who relishes contact. Dart instructed ESPN lately that he was a linebacker rising up. His dad, Brandon, performed security on the College of Utah. His brother, Diesel, is a security at Nook Canyon Excessive Faculty, the place his older brother additionally performed. The physicality is ingrained in Dart, who used his throwing arm to stiff-arm a defender in his first profession begin. Fifteen of Dart’s 54 dashing yards (28%) have come after contact. That is extra a security/linebacker mentality than quarterback. — Jordan Raanan Simply watch DeJean’s pick-six of Mahomes in Tremendous Bowl LIX and you may see he has the fingers, imaginative and prescient and strikes to play some offense. Put him within the slot and let him work. He starred on offense in highschool in Iowa and set faculty profession data in passing yards, passing TDs, completions and receiving TDs. He was a standout in basketball, baseball and monitor as nicely, displaying he is greater than able to being multifaceted. — Tim McManus Sainristil already has proven he will be an efficient nook within the NFL — he is finest suited inside however performed outdoors out of necessity final 12 months and dealt with it nicely. He has intercepted three passes within the NFL and has began 20 video games. However his versatility wasn’t a shock to Washington due to what he confirmed at Michigan. He was a standout receiver — with 28 profession landing receptions — and defensive again in highschool and began his profession on offense in faculty. Sainristil performed receiver his first three seasons and caught 38 passes for 546 yards and 5 touchdowns. He then moved to nook for his ultimate two years and intercepted seven passes. — John Keim Walker was the one undrafted rookie to make the 53-man roster after Chicago’s brass turned enamored with the high-motor vitality he put into each coaching camp follow and preseason recreation. Nothing showcased that greater than when he scored the Bears’ go-ahead TD within the two-minute drill after which recorded the game-sealing sort out on the very subsequent kickoff to assist Chicago come from behind to beat the Chiefs within the third recreation of the preseason. Walker was a two-way standout at Shaker Heights Excessive Faculty in Ohio, the place he caught 19 passes for 431 yards and 5 touchdowns and recorded 55 tackles, 9 move breakups, 6 compelled fumbles and a couple of interceptions as a senior. — Courtney Cronin Joseph led the NFL with 9 interceptions final season and has been capable of showcase his elite catching potential regardless of starring on protection. Joseph additionally performed vast receiver throughout his junior season (2020) at Illinois, which has helped him develop elite ball expertise as a First-Workforce All-Professional NFL security. That two-way expertise might probably assist him play each side of the ball, if needed, inside a Lions offense recognized for being inventive with trick performs. Nevertheless, he hasn’t logged any offensive reps within the NFL. — Eric Woodyard CB/WR Bo Melton For his first two seasons in Inexperienced Bay, Melton performed receiver. Actually, he has a 100-yard recreation to his credit score (105 vs. Minnesota in 2023). This summer time, he switched to cornerback, the identical place his brother Max performs for the Cardinals. Bo Melton switched his quantity from 80 to 16, performed completely on protection within the preseason and made the workforce as a cornerback. Nevertheless, he has not taken a snap on protection but this season. He performed three snaps at receiver in Week 3 as a result of the Packers had been skinny on the place however in any other case has performed solely on particular groups. — Rob Demovsky The Vikings have no apparent candidates, so let’s nominate Rodgers — who has already scored two defensive touchdowns this season and in addition hit the best recreation velocity recorded within the NFL Subsequent Gen Stats period. Rodgers bought to 23.32 mph whereas chasing Steelers receiver DK Metcalf throughout the sphere on an 80-yard landing. At UMass in 2019, Rodgers fielded 53 kick returns for 1,415 yards, each of which ranked No. 1 amongst all FBS gamers that season. Rodgers has been begging Vikings coaches to permit him to return kickoffs, however he has been too beneficial on protection to danger a particular groups damage. Nonetheless, it is simple to examine Rodgers lining up as a large receiver and easily outrunning defensive backs to an open area. — Kevin Seifert Whereas Andersen’s damage points have stored him off the sphere for a lot of the previous two seasons, he was a flexible two-way participant at Montana State. Andersen performed working again and linebacker as a real freshman, then moved to quarterback as a sophomore and set the varsity document for many dashing touchdowns in a single season (21). He moved again to enjoying primarily linebacker as a junior, although he nonetheless noticed time at working again, beginning three video games on each side of the ball. Andersen nonetheless owns the Montana State document for many dashing yards in a single recreation (211) and he is second in profession dashing touchdowns (33). — Marc Raimondi WR David Moore Moore will get the nod right here though he simply went on the injured reserve with an elbow damage. Moore has no expertise on protection, however his coaches say Moore might play cornerback in a crunch if needed due to his versatility. He has been a prime contributor on particular groups as a gunner and has been constant as a receiver and runner on reverses that led to his damage. — David Newton TE Taysom Hill The do-everything participant, who returned Sunday from the bodily unable to carry out checklist, has performed quarterback, tight finish and fullback within the NFL and has thrown for, caught and run for touchdowns. He was a highschool quarterback in Idaho who additionally kicked and punted, and he even performed defensive again and linebacker in a pinch. The Saints lately stated Hill may very well be their emergency long-snapper. Former Saints coach Dennis Allen has stated he believes Hill might have performed linebacker within the NFL, though that by no means got here to fruition. — Katherine Terrell DT Vita Vea Vea could be pushing 347 kilos, and his house is all the time going to be defensive position, however he additionally performed working again at Milpitas Excessive Faculty in California, the place he had 13 dashing touchdowns his senior 12 months and averaged 12.3 yards per keep on 47 carries. Within the NFL, he has lined up a few instances on offense on the purpose line, turning into the heaviest participant to attain an offensive landing in league historical past in 2019 with a 1-yard landing catch towards the Falcons. — Jenna Laine A security for the Cardinals who’s seeing vital enjoying time, Taylor-Demerson has a storied historical past on the offensive aspect of the ball. He was the Oklahoma 5A Participant of the 12 months as a senior in highschool at working again and was additionally named the Large All-Metropolis Offensive Participant of the 12 months. As a senior, he had 1,365 dashing yards and 24 TDs and led his workforce to its third straight Class 5A state championship. — Josh Weinfuss LB Jared Verse Puka Nacua stated he’d prefer to see outdoors linebacker Verse at tight finish. “I feel that might be fascinating to see,” Nacua stated. “I feel we might put him in some motions and put a variety of defenses in some hassle.” Verse performed on each side of the ball his senior 12 months of highschool, catching 15 passes for 385 yards to go together with his 14 tackles and three compelled fumbles. — Sarah Barshop LB Dee Winters Winters discovered a house at linebacker in faculty (TCU) and within the NFL and has emerged as one of many workforce’s finest younger gamers to this point this season. However there was a time when Winters was a jack-of-all-trades who did somewhat of all the pieces for tiny Burton Excessive in Texas. There, Winters posted over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns as a receiver whereas additionally enjoying quarterback, working again, defensive again, linebacker and even punter. Given his measurement (5-11, 227 kilos), he’d most likely match as extra of a working again or H-back kind within the NFL, however his expertise enjoying everywhere in the subject would appear to assist him if he wanted to do extra than simply play linebacker. — Nick Wagoner CB Riq Woolen With a 6-foot-4 body, a 4.26-second 40-yard sprint and a 42-inch vertical bounce, Woolen has the form of measurables and athletic potential that might give him an opportunity to catch passes for a residing and never simply defend them. He started his faculty profession as a large receiver, catching 24 passes for 263 yards and a landing over his freshman and sophomore seasons at UTSA. However with Woolen enjoying sparingly and the Roadrunners in want of assist at cornerback, he agreed to play protection late in his sophomore season, a change that might put him on a path to creating the Professional Bowl and ending tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with six as a rookie fifth-round decide in 2022. — Brady Henderson
NFC EAST
NFC NORTH
NFC SOUTH
NFC WEST
