INDIANAPOLIS - Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter was the center of attention at Thursday's media session at the NFL Scouting Combine and for good reason. The two-way star is a lock as one of the top picks in this year's draft and one of the most intriguing athletes to come out of college, perhaps since his former coach Deion Sanders balanced playing both in the NFL and in Major League Baseball in the 1990s.

"They say nobody has ever done it the way that I do it, but I tell them I'm just different, I'm a different person," said Hunter before the largest audience of the week in Indy.

During the 2024 season, Hunter made history by becoming the first player to win both the Chuck Bednarik Award, recognizing the nation's top defensive player, and the Fred Biletnikoff Award, honoring the best wide receiver.

Hunter's impressive statistics included 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense, along with 32 tackles and four interceptions on defense. His outstanding performance earned him the Heisman Trophy, making him only the second defensive player to receive this honor, following Charles Woodson in 1997. Additionally, Hunter was a unanimous All-American selection and received the Paul Hornung Award in both 2023 and 2024 for his remarkable versatility.

The Patriots have good reason to have their eye on Hunter. Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf told Patriots.com on Wednesday that the team had written up scouting reports on him as both a receiver and a cornerback and could see the talented Hunter playing on both sides of the ball in the NFL as he did in college.

"Everybody knows I can light up a room just by walking in, I always have a smile on my face," said Hunter of what kind of addition he would be to an NFL locker room. "I bring the excitement and I'm a great communicator."

It might boil down to one of Hunter's teammates in deciding whether or not New England has a chance to select him at fourth overall.

While most expect Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Miami quarterback Cam Ward to be top-three selections, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the wild card. If the Titans, Browns or Giants think Sanders is their quarterback of the future, or if another team decides to move up in a trade to select him, it could put Hunter in the Patriots sights.

With needs at both wide receiver and cornerback, Hunter just might be an ideal fit for a Patriots team that could use an injection of his rare athleticism and versatility. It might be uncharted territory, but Hunter has full confidence he can continue to play on both sides of the ball.

"I know I can do it," said Hunter. "There's a lot more breaks in the NFL."

Deep Tight End Class Offers Mid-Round Intrigue

The tight end group has been praised by scouts as one of the deepest of the 2025 draft and it could be a position the Patriots look to pounce on. Top prospect Tyler Warren out of Penn State is a first-round lock but after him, most of the better prospects like Michigan's Colston Loveland and Bowling Green's Harold Fannin could be in range.

Veteran tight end Hunter Henry signed an extension last year, but solid 2024 veteran contributor Austin Hooper is scheduled to hit free agency. A young, dynamic tight end to groom behind and alongside Henry could be a helpful addition for second-year quarterback Drake Maye.

Colston was notably in an arm sling during his podium appearance, still recovering from reconstructive A/C joint surgery that will hold him out until the later this spring. Tall and long with excellent ball skills, it might be a long shot for the Wolverine to fall into the Patriots second-round range, but he's one of the best weapons in this class and could be worth a trade up for New England if he does come within striking distance.

The country-tough Fannin isn't far behind and offers more as a blocker, while later-round prospects like Mason Taylor (LSU) and Elijah Arroyo (Miami) also offer plenty of upside.

Tight end might not top the list of the Patriots needs but sometimes you've got to strike while the position groups are robust.

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