Colorado pro day: Travis Hunter is a lock as a top-5 pick, but could Shedeur Sanders fall?
Over the next few weeks, teams will work to determine whether there's enough substance to match the flashiness, as both are expected to be selected on April 24 in the first round.
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Hunter, the Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver and cornerback, has been the easier evaluation for NFL teams. Though there isn't a consensus among teams on whether to play him primarily on offense or defense, there's no denying Hunter's talent, athleticism and intangibles. He's viewed along with Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter as one of the two most talented players in the class, and Hunter is a virtual certainty as a top-five pick.
Deion Sanders has one final message for NFL teams after Colorado's pro day about Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter 👀 pic.twitter.com/U3gK4RqlUz
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 4, 2025
In fact, there's a growing belief around the league that Hunter is the favorite to go to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 2 pick, according to high-ranking executives and coaches. The Browns have been high on Hunter throughout the process, according to sources. And as he went through his route tree Friday during warmups, Browns general manager Andrew Berry watched intently from 10 yards away.
Hunter later caught 15 passes from Sanders during the quarterback's throwing session. Hunter mingled with New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen and Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton after the on-field action concluded.
The Browns sent a heavy contingent to Colorado to meet with both Hunter and Sanders, including a Thursday dinner with the pair. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and head coach Kevin Stefanski were also present for the visit. But the Browns have also hosted Hunter, Sanders and Miami quarterback Cam Ward on official visits in Cleveland, so they're very familiar with the draft's top prospects. Berry also spoke with Colorado coach Deion Sanders on Friday after the pro day.
Shedeur Sanders remains the trickier evaluation. He completed 62 of 67 passes, including three drops, during Friday's workout, and he showed off his strong deep ball at times. His ability to throw an accurate deep ball is one of his greatest attributes, according to league evaluators, and they liked what they saw Friday.
Shedeur with a beauty.
Jimmy Horn Jr. with the spectacular catch AND the flip.
📺: Path to the Draft: Colorado Showcase on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/vMCBsAf742
— NFL (@NFL) April 4, 2025
However, there were some wobbly throws on some shorter routes, and his arm strength has been described by league evaluators as good but not great. That will surely be a concern for teams that deal with more wintry conditions later in the season.
Over the past couple of months, Ward has established himself as the clear favorite to be the Tennessee Titans' pick at No. 1. Several teams in the top 10 have prepared for that outcome during in-house mock draft simulations. That didn't stop the Titans from visiting Colorado, though, and their traveling party included president of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi. Both met with Deion Sanders after the workout.
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Of course, the Titans could still move the top pick, but that doesn't sound likely at the moment, especially after they declined to get involved with top free agents Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers, according to league sources. The Browns and Giants have inquired about the Titans' interest in trading down, according to league sources, but the Titans haven't even determined the level of compensation they'd require to consider such a move.
Judging by the Browns' and Giants' actions — as well as what they've said about refusing to force a QB draft pick in the first round — it's fair to deduce their interest in moving up has been centered around Ward.
But while the league believes the Browns are leaning toward Hunter, it's more of a guessing game with the Giants, whose large contingent in Boulder also included coach Brian Daboll. One top-10 team believed the Giants were pivoting away from a quarterback with their first pick, likely instead eying Carter.
The Giants aren't done with their evaluation, though. They plan to meet with Shedeur Sanders again before the draft, according to league sources.
If the Giants pass on Sanders, there's a fascinating question developing around the league: How far could he fall? The New York Jets could theoretically be in play at No. 7. The New Orleans Saints, who sit at No. 9, have been heavily involved in the quarterback pro days, but they had a scarce presence in Boulder. There are cases to be made for other QB-needy teams outside the top 10, but there aren't any sure things.
And due to the intrigue over the landing spots for both Hunter and Sanders, the spotlight doesn't look likely to dim around the pair of Colorado stars before the draft.
(Photo of Shedeur Sanders: Michael Ciaglo / Imagn Images)
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