2025 NFL Draft: Former NFL GM compares Travis Hunter to Michael Jordan

The NFL mock drafts are finally coming to an end, with the 2025 NFL Draft set to begin on Thursday. So where will Colorado star and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter end up?

In its final mock draft, ESPN had Hunter going second overall to the Cleveland Browns. Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum said he’d absolutely support that pick. Then he made a remarkable comparison.

“Yes, I would definitely take him,” Tannenbaum said. “You go back to the 1983 NBA Draft and the Portland Trailblazers, they passed on Michael Jordan. This is potentially Michael Jordan.”

Travis Hunter, the two-way Colorado star, is certainly unique in his talent and skill set. It’s not every day you see a player go full-time on both sides of the ball.

It’s unlikely Travis Hunter will do that to the same extent at the next level. Still, he’s a hugely valuable asset to whatever team drafts him and his versatility offers teams a lot of flexibility.

“In a day and age we talk about load management, not playing as much, here’s a player that averaged 114 plays per game,” Tannenbaum said. “And when you watch him play, he can literally be Justin Jefferson and Patrick Surtain. This is a generational player.

“His ball skills, whether you want to call it a corner or a receiver, are generational. The way he can high-point it, pluck it… you’re talking about a point scorer and a defender taking the opposing best team’s receiver away. I don’t know how you can pass on him.”

As to whether Travis Hunter will go as high as No. 2, that likely depends on how teams plan to use him. Tannenbaum offered his take on how he thought Cleveland might go about it.

“If I was running the Browns I’d play him at corner full time, he has elite man-to-man skills,” Tannenbaum said. “And then say to him, ‘Hey, look, here’s 15, 20 plays. Third down, red zone,’ and let’s build that ancillary package.”