Breaking: Buccaneers Closing In On Deal To Sign $40.2 Nightmare CB

In the best-case scenario—after all, what else is a mock draft for?—the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might eventually select a player who would cause the opposition NFL clubs serious problems.

Travis Hunter, a Colorado All-American wide receiver and cornerback, is selected by Tampa Bay with the No. 12 overall choice in the first round of PFF’s Way-Too-Early Mock Draft for 2025, which is authored by Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman. Hunter is one of the most unusual prospects in recent memory.

Based on a PFF aggregation of 2025 Super Bowl odds, the draft order was created.

Chadwick and Wasserman wrote, “The Buccaneers choose to go with Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who is the best player available.” With his ability to play cornerback and wide receiver at almost elite levels, Hunter is a freak of nature. In2023, he received a receiving grade of 78.9 and a coverage grade of 74.7.

James Pearce Jr., an edge rusher from Tennessee, was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the first overall choice in the same mock draft.

Travis Hunter: 1 of 1 College Football Superstar

In recent memory, no collegiate player has the skill set that Hunter does. He is a two-way player who has the appearance of a holdover from the bygone age of every-down players who shaped the early years of college football as well as the game itself.

Hunter’s journey to this point is equally special.

Hunter, the top-ranked high school player in the country for the Class of 2022, was a five-star prospect from Collins Hill (Ga.) High School who had committed to play for Florida State, a dominant FBS program, but in December 2021 he switched his allegiance to FCS Jackson State and head coach Deion Sanders.

At that moment, a five-star recruit had never before committed to play at an FCS or HBCU. Hunter made a seismic move.

Despite missing five games due to an ankle ailment as a senior, Hunter caught 76 passes for 1,128 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Hunter finished with 10 receptions for 153 yards and one score in the Class 7A state championship game. He also forced a fumble to seal a 15-0 season and earn the school’s first-ever state championship. Georgia state record for receiving touchdowns in a career (48) was set by him.

Dustin Lewis of Sports Illustrated stated in 2021 that “Hunter has spurned Florida State and will play for FCS Jackson State and Deion Sanders at the next level—in what is probably the most shocking decision in the history of college football recruiting.” “This is incredibly astounding.”

The renowned 247Sports recruiter Steve Wiltfong revealed the possibility of Hunter’s flip.

Wiltfong said to CBS Sports’ David Cobb, “This is the biggest signing day moment in the history of college football.”

Travis Hunter Followed Deion Sanders From JSU to Colorado

Hunter might serve as an example of why the NFL should reduce the three-year requirement for athletes to be eligible for the draft to two years. As of right now, athletes must complete three years of high school to be eligible for the draft; Hunter would have been selected in the top ten of the 2024 NFL draft.

Hunter, who has played both offense and defense the past two seasons, followed Sanders to Colorado after winning the SWAC Freshman of the Year award as a true freshman at Jackson State in 2022.

Despite missing three games due to a lacerated liver, Hunter was a unanimous choice for the AP All-America at the all-purpose position in 2023 and took home the Paul Hornung Award as the country’s most versatile player.

Hunter will likely be a full-time cornerback in the NFL, although it’s easy to see using him on the offensive side of the ball in high-pressure situations.

He’s also one of the wealthiest athletes in college football when it comes to NIL earnings — according to On3, Hunter has an annual $2.7 million NIL value, including endorsement deals with EA Sports and Leaf Trading Cards.