With the 2024 NFL season starting this week, it’s probably too early to start thinking about the 2025 NFL Draft, especially since the 2024 class gave fans so many fun rookies to watch and get excited about.
However, it’s never too early for Mel Kiper Jr., and the draft expert already has his sights set on next year after recently naming who he believes is the “best pure player” in the class.
Kiper recently appeared on an episode of ESPN’s Get Up and told Mike Greenberg that Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is “the best pure football player in this draft” and compared him to Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey, who also played both sides of the ball back in his day before focusing specifically on cornerback in the NFL en route to making a dozen Pro Bowls.
40 year NFL Draft Expert Mel Kiper Jr. on Travis Hunter 👀
“The best pure football player in this draft”
— We Coming 🦬 (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) September 4, 2024
Kiper noted that Hunter is probably going to have to do the same and will likely focus on just being a receiver at the next level.
In Bailey’s final year at Georgia, he posted 47 catches for 744 yards and five touchdowns, 16 carries for 84 yards, and had three interceptions on defense while also returning kickoffs and a few punts.
Hunter is off to an incredible start after putting up seven catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns in his team’s season-opening victory over North Dakota State, but Kiper is right in noting he’ll have to choose one side to focus all his energy on in the NFL.
We could see him take a few snaps on defense as a pro, but it’s looking like he’ll primarily be a receiver, and he should be a great one.
