logo
Shedeur Sanders makes draft day prediction with former teammate Travis Hunter

Shedeur Sanders makes draft day prediction with former teammate Travis Hunter

USA Today17-04-2025

Shedeur Sanders makes draft day prediction with former teammate Travis Hunter
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders made a draft day prediction involving former teammate Travis Hunter. When appearing on Overtime, Sanders predicted that the Cleveland Browns would either draft him or wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick.
New England Patriots fans are obviously hoping it isn't the latter, as it would take a generational talent off the board for them at No. 4. The expectations are that Hunter won't fall to the Patriots, but fans have been holding out hope for a miracle scenario.
"Draft day, I know it should be me or [Hunter] going [to Cleveland]. Which one? I don't know, but I think we're the most qualified players to go to that organization," said Sanders.
Both players are coming off tremendous seasons. Sanders recorded 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. That performance earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is given to college football's best quarterback.
Meanwhile, Hunter had a record-setting season that earned him the Heisman Trophy. He gained notoriety for his rare ability to play on both sides of the ball. All told, he recorded 96 receptions for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, he tallied 35 tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble.
Even if the Patriots don't land Hunter, Sanders being drafted by one of the top-three teams could lead to a scenario where they come away with Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Along with Hunter, Carter is projected to be one of the top players on the draft board.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Browns' 'high-level' quarterback room has Super Bowl MVP, 2 rookies and some fun
Browns' 'high-level' quarterback room has Super Bowl MVP, 2 rookies and some fun

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Browns' 'high-level' quarterback room has Super Bowl MVP, 2 rookies and some fun

Browns' 'high-level' quarterback room has Super Bowl MVP, 2 rookies and some fun Show Caption Hide Caption Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure from his doubters After sliding in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders explains why he's not bothered by his many doubters as Browns career begins. Sports Pulse Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. BEREA, OH — Story time in the Cleveland Browns quarterback meeting room can take a while sometimes. Or, as veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco relayed at minicamp Wednesday, it could last the entire meeting. Take a recent 9 a.m. gaggle, with a team lift scheduled 20 minutes later. Somebody brought up taking vacations and whether it was possible not to enjoy going on them. "That turned into five stories, and next thing you know you know, it's 9:17, you're like, 'All right, guys, see you later,'" said Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season. 'So, yeah, that can happen. But throughout the course of my career, that happens on Fridays in the season. You're prepared, you're ready, you've kind of covered everything, and sometimes you tell stories for 15 minutes. That's what being a teammate and getting to know these guys is all about.' The Browns' quarterback room – led by Flacco and filled with young journeyman Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders – is crowded. It deals with heightened outside attention in the aftermath of drafting Sanders following his dramatic fall in the 2025 NFL draft. But the main priority of the group, which also includes the injured Deshaun Watson and head coach Kevin Stefanski in addition to quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, is to turn a high-profile quarterback competition into a way to build team chemistry and win football games. 'The discussion that occurs in the quarterback room is outstanding,' Stefanski said. 'It's fun. It's high-level discussion. It's new for the two young guys...I think it's an impressive thing for those young guys to absorb.' Having the chance to throw a play up from the respective careers of Flacco or Pickett is often a good way to start a discussion about football. For the other topics, oftentimes Sanders will offer something up and Flacco will run with it. Sanders is also prone to give Flacco a verbal jab about their age gap (Sanders is 23, while Flacco is 40). 'It's real fun having those guys in the room,' Sanders said. 'Quarterbacks, we think in similar ways, but not everybody always talks about it.' During practice, Sanders said, Flacco has helped instruct him on the quickest way to progress through route reads. And Sanders wants the feedback. Throughout the first two days of minicamp, the two have conversed plenty on the field, with Flacco often gesturing with his hands – and maybe even flashing a smile barely visible through his facemask. 'He's a pro. I'd be dumb not to get insight from somebody who's had success over all the years he has,' Sanders said. MORE: 'I got time to grow and mature': Shedeur Sanders battling at Browns camp On Wednesday, Gabriel took first-team reps in the red zone. The lefty pumped three hard throws over the middle for completions later in practice during move-the-ball drills. Gabriel referred to the quarterbacks on the roster as diverse 'in experience.' 'I think what we've done really well as a room is just the inability to dwell on the past,' the former Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon quarterback said. He added: 'I think there's a lot of juice in the squeeze. But you've got to ask the right questions.' Most of the technique questions, according to Flacco and Pickett, have revolved around the under-center snaps required in Stefanski's offense to set up the play-action pass and run concepts. 'Hopefully I can give them some insight,' said Pickett, who won Super Bowl 59 earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles as Jalen Hurts' backup after an unsuccessful stint starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Maximizing time on the practice field – more reps lead to more confidence, Pickett said – is paramount and Cleveland has often split the team into two so a pair of quarterbacks can rotate in and out. It also means that a player may have the chance to run a certain play once the entire camp. Flacco appears to be the presumed starter but didn't take many snaps during minicamp by design. Pickett primarily worked with the starters, although the coaching staff gave Gabriel a shot with them, while Sanders has yet to face the first-team defense. 'I think everyone in this game sees themselves as starters and that belief of self is why a lot of guys are in the NFL,' Gabriel said. 'So you just continue to improve, continue to challenge yourself.' Teams can dress three quarterbacks on the game-day roster, but carrying four on the roster is rare. The odds of all four quarterbacks staying in Cleveland through the season are slim. MORE: Emotional Browns say they will miss cherished running back Nick Chubb 'Let's not look too much into who's out there when we're in the installation phase, we're in the teaching phase,' Stefanski said. Flacco said he trusts Stefanski's plan and that's all he can do. 'Listen, I'd love to go out there and take 120 reps a day and get in a groove,' he said. As a rookie in 2008, Flacco joined the Baltimore Ravens with Kyle Boller and Troy Smith on the roster as the two veterans slated to battle for the starting job. But after camp and before the season, they signed veteran backup Todd Bouman, who was 36 at the time. 'His family was back in Minnesota, and he'd take me out to dinner and go out for a drink here and there, and just an unbelievable person,' Flacco said. 'I appreciated it in the moment, but looking back also, it was something that kind of calmed me down because you had a good relationship with somebody in the room you could feel comfortable around and you felt was genuinely rooting for you.' Having that type of chemistry depends on the personalities in the room, Stefanski said. He remembers being the Vikings' assistant quarterbacks coach during the season with Brett Favre, Sage Rosenfels, Joe Webb and Tarvaris Jackson. 'I've been very fortunate to be in some great rooms with professionals,' Stefanski said. 'Guys who try to work hard at their craft but also have some fun while we're in there.' For the 2025 Browns, Stefanski is hoping that formula works once again and produces a clear-cut starter that can take Cleveland back to the postseason – or even be the franchise quarterback of the future. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.

Patriots stock report: Efton Chism and other risers and fallers after spring practices
Patriots stock report: Efton Chism and other risers and fallers after spring practices

New York Times

time2 hours ago

  • New York Times

Patriots stock report: Efton Chism and other risers and fallers after spring practices

Before the New England Patriots adjourned for the quietest six-week stretch on the NFL calendar, with no practices or meetings until training camp begins on July 23, new coach Mike Vrabel stressed the importance of the time away. 'I don't think it's a downtime,' Vrabel said. 'It's time away from the facility. I think it's important. It's probably the five most important weeks of the offseason as far as I'm concerned. … It's critical that they come back in shape, that they're ready to go for training camp, that we're prepared as coaches with the schedule, the installation and what we're doing. The players have to hold up their end of the bargain to prepare for training camp.' Advertisement Still, the end of spring practices comes with some surprises. Roster cutdown day isn't going to be shaped much by organized team activities and minicamp, but those sessions do have an impact on where players stand heading into training camp. Today, let's look at the players who climbed the depth chart and fell the most this spring. We have to start here. No player's stock rose more than Chism's. He didn't just stand out to reporters at the sessions we watched. He drew praise from arguably the two most important people: Vrabel and Drake Maye. Maye said it felt like Chism 'had about 50 catches' during OTAs. Vrabel's remarks stood out, too. Perhaps it's just that people in these parts aren't used to the head coach praising any player, let alone an undrafted rookie who hasn't played a game, but Vrabel's comments turned a few heads. 'I think he's a talented player,' Vrabel said. 'I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard. He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. … It doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target (with passes). That's a good indicator.' Mike Vrabel on undrafted WR Efton Chism, a spring standout so far: 'I think he's a talented player. … He has a good feel for what we're asking.' — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) June 10, 2025 Yes, they were only spring practices, and there is a long, long way to go. But at this point, it seems more likely than not that Chism makes the team. It may seem strange to include one of the league's best cornerbacks as a 'riser' based on spring practices, but Gonzalez looked like a true shutdown corner this spring, taking a step forward from his high level of play a year ago. Advertisement One day after Maye said he was going to challenge Gonzalez in practice, Maye had a receiver one-on-one downfield against Gonzalez, so he threw it up. But Gonzalez adjusted his body and came down with a great interception despite no safety help. In five practices open to reporters, Gonzalez had three picks. He looks primed for an incredible year that could solidify him as a top-five corner in the NFL. Part of practice is taking advantage of your opportunities. And while Rhamondre Stevenson was away from the team for a bit, dealing with a personal matter following the loss of his father, Henderson brought a juice to the team's backfield that it hasn't had in a few years. There were certainly fair reasons to be skeptical about a rebuilding team using its second-round pick on a running back. But Henderson's speed is obvious, and he'll be one of the most fun players for fans to watch in camp. The guess here is he ends up as the team's No. 1 back by the end of the season. It wasn't always clear whether Elliss would return to the Pats after he signed an offer sheet from the Las Vegas Raiders, but now he's got a chance to be a starting middle linebacker in New England. Jahlani Tavai suffered a leg injury in OTAs, and Elliss took advantage of the increased snaps. With a good camp, he'll be starting next to Robert Spillane. Amid the Patriots' overhaul on defense, the addition of Chaisson has gone slightly under the radar. But the 2020 first-round pick had some impressive moments this spring and could be looking at a meaningful role if he plays well in training camp. Chaisson is still just 25 despite already playing five NFL seasons and looks ready to build on the five sacks he had a year ago for the Raiders. Perhaps it's not fair to put injured players in this category. But as coaches often say, the best ability is availability, and Polk needs to stand out to this new coaching staff to earn a spot in a crowded wide receiver room. After a shoulder procedure in the offseason, Polk was limited to side-field activities this spring and couldn't do much with the team. The wide receiver competition will be fascinating to follow in training camp. Advertisement A year after recovering from an ACL tear, the Patriots would have liked to see more from Bourne than they did this spring. He was … fine. But they're likely only going to keep six receivers, and with Chism playing like he deserves a spot, the numbers get complicated quickly for Bourne. He needs a strong camp, or he could be a cut candidate. It hasn't been the start to his NFL career that Mapu hoped for after being a third-round pick in 2023. To simplify things for him, Vrabel has Mapu working at linebacker instead of both there and safety, where Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo used him. There's less depth at linebacker, which helps Mapu's chances of making the team. But I've got some concerns about a guy with durability issues suddenly playing a more physical position. Vrabel thinks Mapu can be a good blitzer, so he'll need to shine there in camp.

‘I bring the juice every day': Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is having a blast during first NFL minicamp
‘I bring the juice every day': Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is having a blast during first NFL minicamp

CNN

time2 hours ago

  • CNN

‘I bring the juice every day': Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is having a blast during first NFL minicamp

Despite having a mountain of expectation on his shoulders, it appears that Travis Hunter remains unfazed. Hunter was the No. 2 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 NFL Draft after a Heisman Trophy-winning season with the Colorado Buffaloes. The 22-year-old is a unique prospect given his two-way potential at college – he played on offense as a wide receiver and on defense as a cornerback – and his desire to feature on both sides of the ball in the NFL. But that pressure to excel at two different positions – which very few players have ever tried, let alone succeeded at, on the pro level – doesn't appear to be getting to Hunter. At his first few days of minicamp with the Jags, Hunter has been seen dancing before plays and laughing with his new teammates as he gets his first taste of offensive and defensive NFL football. Speaking to the media, the Florida native said he's had no issues letting his personality shine despite the step up. 'It's been very easy for me. The guys come in and I bring the juice every day,' Hunter told reporters. 'I always got a smile on my face and make everyone laugh when I get the chance. 'So we're just having fun and just being kids out here – just loving it and living our dream.' Whether Hunter's two-way game will be able to translate from the college level to the NFL is yet to be seen. From his perspective, Hunter says there's 'not really any difference' between playing on both sides of the ball on either level, adding that he needs to 'stay in the playbook and apply it to the field' if he wants to succeed. According to Jags defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, Hunter has all the tools to be a two-way star in the NFL. 'He just has a wealth of talent. He's a super intelligent guy, which makes it really fun. He's really quick on the uptake, so he's a fun guy to coach, to be around,' Campanile told reporters on Wednesday. 'I know his position coaches love coaching him and it's pretty impressive to watch a guy do that. I think it's really cool. It's been really fun, but I also think the coaches … have done a great job of just getting him up to speed on everything, and he's done a great job responding to it.' Jacksonville fans got to see their players up close and personal on Wednesday as the team held a two-hour session open to the public, a rare occurrence for an NFL offseason practice. The stands at Miller Electric Center were full as spectators got their first opportunity to see the team under first-year head coach Liam Coen as well as the crop of new players, with Hunter being the headline act. Hunter called the open session a 'great experience' while Coen said the players increased their effort levels because of the fans' support. '(We) really felt them, the players fed off that, especially some of the younger guys feeling some of that support being rookies and never having a practice quite like this with fans here,' Coen told reporters on Wednesday. 'So really appreciate everybody coming out this week, today especially.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store