SI

Mike Vrabel Explains How Patriots Would Use Travis Hunter If They Draft Him at Pick No. 4

New England has holes to fill—and they could potentially fill two with one player.

Mike Kadlick

Hunter is considered to be among the top two prospects in the 2025 NFL draft.
Hunter is considered to be among the top two prospects in the 2025 NFL draft. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
In this story:

As the New England Patriots mull over their options at pick No. 4, head coach Mike Vrabel understands they won't know exactly who is available until they're officially on the clock.

"Nope. Do you have any idea?" he jokingly responded at the AFC coaches breakfast on Monday when asked if the team has clarity on how things may go at the top of the draft. "You tell me who goes 1, 2, and 3 and I'll tell you who goes 4."

If the board does fall the right way, New England—picking within the top five of the NFL draft for a second consecutive season—could have a chance at drafting a generational talent in hybrid player Travis Hunter. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner played wide receiver and cornerback during his time at the University of Colorado, and shined on both sides of the ball.

Vrabel was asked about Hunter on Monday and refused to put him in a box, insinuating that the Patriots would be open to playing him on both offense and defense.

"I think there are some things he can improve on by probably concentrating on just one position," he explained. "But never going to put any restrictions on Travis, or any player. We try to—as much as they can handle—we’re going to continue to put more on their plate."

“If he were on our football team and he showed great skill at one position," Vrabel continued. "And started to really do well in his conditioning, and it didn’t fall and didn’t drop, we would be open to playing everybody that we had at more than one position. Anything that would help the football team, I would be all in favor of."

New England's new man in charge later added that Hunter would probably need to have a primary position, "to improve... just to be able to get some of the details that are going to be required in this league."

The Patriots, after spending the most money in free agency, currently hold nine picks in April's draft to help revive their depleted roster.

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

Published
Mike Kadlick
MIKE KADLICK

Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master's in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.

Home/NFL