The Cleveland Browns aren't the team that needs Travis Hunter the most, but his talent might force their hand in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The football world spent the entire 2024 season laughing at the Cleveland Browns amid their descent to destitution. They handed out the worst contract in league history and paid for it, tasked Jameis Winston with taking over under center before benching him, too, and ultimately suffering misfortunate at every position group on their way to a 3-14 record.
Now, edge rusher Myles Garrett wants out, positioning the team to refuse his request or embark on another rebuild.
Colorado star Travis Hunter.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
For all of the insults and injuries, the league will be envious of Cleveland for a few nights in April, headlined by the second pick in an exciting class.
Subsequently, the Browns pick major upgrades to the receiver room and secondary in this two-round mock draft.
Regardless of whether Cleveland trades Garrett, one could argue that Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is a more necessary pick than Hunter. But the Heisman-winning phenom could reward the first team willing to play at both corner and receiver.
Hunter is an elite athlete who will immediately enter the league with some of the best ball skills of any defensive back on the planet. He’s explosive, fluid, and physical enough to hold his own as a No. 1 corner. Deploying him with Denzel Ward on the same unit only weaponizes him more.
He might not play much of a role on offense. However, this is a unit that’s projected to struggle, and if he lives up to the billing of a first-round receiver it will be incredibly difficult to take him off the field. Carter is an elite prospect; Hunter is the class’ best shot at producing a generational talent. The Browns shouldn’t let positional needs trump that kind of profile.
Round 2, Pick 33: Mississippi Receiver Tre Harris
It’s possible that Hunter soaking up offensive playing time overlaps with potential Harris snaps. Yet, Cleveland can easily move on from veteran receiver Elijah Moore in the offseason, and Cedric Tillman doesn’t demand full-time starting reps, despite his flashes.
Picking Harris would provide the Browns offense with a versatile possession receiver who can win after the catch and downfield, making life easy for next year’s quarterback. There’s room for Harris to join Jerry Jeudy, Tillman, and (hypothetically) Hunter at receiver.
With an outstanding statistical profile, a physical demeanor that makes him quarterback-friendly, and the urgency Cleveland must address the offense with, Harris makes sense to kick off the Day 2 festivities.
