Dawgs By Nature
Browns drafting Travis Hunter rumors continue but did he just make a threat? If so, does it matter?
Just over a week until the NFL draft lets everyone in on what teams will look like in 2025 and things were starting to get boring. Then QB Derek Carr had a mysterious injury that could change things, the New York Giants made plans to bring in QB Shedeur Sanders for a last-minute visit and the Carolina Panthers general manager let it be known that he’d be open for a trade down.
Okay, that last one isn’t so much a pot-stirring piece of news since every GM is always open to a trade down, but the other two could be big.
For the Cleveland Browns, WR/CB Travis Hunter seemed locked in as their selection unless the team pivoted to DE Abdul Carter. Carter beating HC Kevin Stefanski to show how competitive he is either helps or hurts the chances of him joining the Browns.
Then, potential drama hit with Hunter that has some in the Cleveland orbit stirred up. In an interview with CBS Sports, the two-way star made a strong statement (some are saying its a threat to teams) about his desire to play both sides of the ball:
Upon meeting with teams around the league in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, he’s made it clear he wants to continue playing both sides of the ball as a professional — something he told CBS Sports isn’t an issue for any club he’s met with. However, if an NFL team told him it’d only allow him to play either wide receiver or cornerback, Hunter would make it clear he’s not playing football at all.
“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter told CBS Sports last week. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
Given that no team, according to Hunter, has had an issue with his desire, it isn’t something the Browns, nor any other team, should be worried about. Despite that, there has been a lot of reaction:
Few like it when employees tell their bosses what to do (unless you are the employee) and that carries over to professional sports:
Is it even a good idea for the team or for Hunter?
Not everyone is sure how to take these statements...
... while others have had a very strong reaction:
Hunter has made it clear to teams that he prefers playing both sides of the ball. While some may call that a threat, it also is a sign of a player who loves to play football and sees value in being on the field as much as possible.
What won’t get much attention, but is especially important for the Browns, is when asked about GM Andrew Berry’s comments about his position being primarily at wide receiver, Hunter said...
