Travis Hunter makes the most sense for Browns with No. 2 pick | Chris Easterling
Everything that has come out over the last few days regarding the Browns and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft has indicated one thing. It's that Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter is growing as the consensus opinion to be the one Cleveland chooses there.
Whether that's reality or a giant smokescreen, that's to be determined when the Browns turn in the card to Commissioner Roger Goodell on April 24. Two-and-a-half weeks until then, however, this can be determined.
It would be the right pick for the Browns to make.
The argument for Hunter's teammate, Shedeur Sanders, has everything to do with his position. A quarterback is absolutely a need for the Browns, but to take the No. 2 quarterback in this draft class at No. 2 would be to take a player who has tools that make him intriguing but would be a reach at that particular spot in the draft regardless of the positional value/need.
The argument for Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is much stronger, starting with the talent itself and coupled with the thought of pairing him alongside All-Pro Myles Garrett. However, the medical concerns — specifically when it involves a foot — at this point, while not major in the moment, at least provide a moment's pause.
The argument for trading back sounds good in theory. The question is, how far back do the Browns go before they're putting themselves out of the running for the absolute best of the best in this draft class?
Which leads back to Hunter, who isn't flawless as a prospect. However, he may just be the best overall talent in the draft class, and elite talent is what the Browns need on their roster.
What separates Hunter from Carter is what made the Colorado star unique in the first place. It's like getting two players for one.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said at the NFL combine he sees Hunter's best position as a wide receiver. That opinion stood out because most other NFL executives and coaches saw Hunter's best fit as a cornerback.
The fact that opinions could be split as such tells you what kind of potential talent you could be dealing with in Hunter. Which is why his value is too much to pass up for the Browns at No. 2.
Do you take a wide receiver with the No. 2 overall pick? No, unless it's someone like Jeremiah Smith, who isn't in this draft
Do you take a cornerback with the No. 2 overall pick? No, unless it's Deion Sanders, who isn't in this draft, although two of his sons are in the class.
Do you take a player who could give you significant snaps at both positions with the No. 2 overall pick? Absolutely.
Hunter comes in and gives you a player who provides another big-play threat on offense at wide receiver. There, he can put what Berry has called Hunter's "superpower," his ball skills to use the most.
Even if the Browns were to make him a wide receiver first, there's no way to not try to maximize the amount of snaps you can get out of him at cornerback. The number of packages defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz could scheme up to get the most out of Hunter on that side of the football, without going too far, could be significant.
Berry himself acknowledged that early last week when talking to a small group of Browns beat writers, including the Beacon Journal, at the NFL owners meetings.
"I think he'll play both sides of the ball in the NFL," Berry said. "I truly do. How that balance looks I think depends on the relative schemes on each side of the ball and then how much he can handle probably more physically than mentally. He's brilliant. He's brilliant from a football standpoint, has a rare intelligence. So, I don't think that there's necessarily a limit in terms of how you can use him. I think he’ll be good at each point."
Which, if that's the case, makes Hunter's talents and potential to be a two-for-one value too much for the Browns to pass up at No. 2.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ