The Patriots failed to sign a No. 1 wide receiver this offseason, but finding one in the NFL draft could be the next best thing.
New England reportedly offered huge deals to Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk, but the pair of star wideouts refused the Patriots' offer and chose to sign with the Tennessee Titans and return to the San Francisco 49ers, respectively. It highlighted how tough it will be for Jerod Mayo's side to attract free agent in his team's rebuilding phase, but there's a top prospect everyone will have their eyes on in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Travis Hunter wowed fans who tuned into Colorado's season-opener against North Dakota State. The hybrid wide receiver and cornerback caught seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns, including one that was an early contender for catch of the season. One of the teams that sent scouts to Folsom Field was New England.
"There were 31 scouts and front office personnel on hand Thursday night for Colorado's 31-26 win over North Dakota State, representing 18 different teams, and the Patriots were one of them, according to the school," ESPN's Mike Reiss wrote in a column Sunday. "Given the team's ongoing quest for a No. 1 receiver, it might be a preview of how thorough the Patriots will be in their evaluation of Colorado dynamic pass catcher Travis Hunter, who is the No. 9 prospect in ESPN analyst Field Yates' rankings."
Hunter is one of college football's most exciting talents for his ability to play on both sides of the ball, which earned him the Paul Hornung Award last season. Patriots defensive backs Marcus Jones and Jabrill Peppers also have won the award.
Hunter will have a wide range of outcomes when it comes to his draft stock, but this offseason highlighted New England will have to look internally for upgrades. If the Patriots do struggle this season, drafting Hunter certainly would be worth it to give Drake Maye a No. 1 wide receiver.
