While a lot of the attention right now is deservingly going toward the 2024 NFL Draft, it is never too early to ponder what can happen down the road in future classes.
Long known for capturing eyeballs, from his play on the field to now coaching on the sidelines, Deion Sanders recently spoke on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast and said his Colorado Buffaloes stars will be selective when it comes to finding an NFL home.
That is not just for his sons – quarterback Shedeur Sanders and safety Shilo Sanders – but also cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, who is considered to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Where Does Deion Sanders Want To See His Stars Play In The NFL?
If Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter follow up their impressive seasons with equally successful years for the Colorado Buffaloes, they will each be considered top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. For Deion Sanders, he sees them each going in the “top four,” as he stated on the podcast. “One of them is going to be [number] one, and the latter one will not go behind four.”
The NFL legend and second-year Buffaloes head coach further explained that when it comes to where his stars will play, certain cities are already off the table. In mentioning where he wants to see them go and where they would fit, this is his list.
It is surprising that Sanders would come out and say this with next year’s draft so far away, but it is also not unprecedented to see top college prospects choose their destination. He alluded that it has happened before, such as when former NFL quarterback Eli Manning refused to play for the Chargers and ended up being traded to the Giants in the 2004 NFL Draft.
A lot of these choices make sense, as “Prime Time” suited up for the 49ers, Cowboys, Commanders, Ravens, and Falcons throughout his illustrious career. Coming out and saying this, however, could alienate teams and may make them less interested in drafting one of those coveted Buffaloes and the headlines that may come from it.
Looking at this list though, it is likely that only the Commanders will pick in the top half of next year’s draft, as each of the other teams is either coming off a playoff season or made a big move to make them an early favorite, such as the Falcons signing Kirk Cousins.
This begins to raise the question that if one of his top players falls down the board and within the Bucs’ range, would Tampa Bay be a destination that Sanders would sign off on? That is where another NFL Hall of Famer might help out the team’s cause.
Warren Sapp Could Keep Bucs In The Running For This Generational Talent
Former Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp is the newest member of Deion Sanders’ coaching staff, having been hired to be a graduate assistant and to help the big guys build mansions. More than that, he will also serve as the Tampa Bay connection that might keep them in the Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter running – if Tampa Bay is in place to draft either one. Sapp spent nine seasons with the Bucs, and while he ended his career with the Raiders, he has remained in the Florida area following his retirement.
After signing quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason, it is unlikely that they would target Sanders, but Hunter is where it could get interesting. As it stands heading into this season, adding another wide receiver and cornerback to the mix is already on the table, as it would bring extra depth. Looking ahead to next season, the need could get even greater with Chris Godwin becoming a free agent and the cornerback room perhaps seeing big changes depending on what the team gets out of Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum.
Solving one or both needs with one selection makes Hunter highly intriguing, and with his skillset, it is little surprise that he ranks No. 1 on CBS Sports’ top 100 players for the 2024 season. In some ways, he is the closest thing the NFL could see since Deion Sanders’ dominance throughout the 1990s.
It is rare to see a player play multiple positions – and do it exceptionally well. In a lot of ways, they are anomalies and generational talents. That is exactly what CBS Sports detailed in their article about the highly talented playmaker:
“Former No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter leads my list as the top overall player in the country entering the 2024 season. He is a generational player and, if he took fewer snaps offensively at wide receiver, would be even more effective for Colorado’s defense. Hunter missed a handful of games after taking a cheap shot in the Colorado State game and still notched 1,044 snaps. He had seven games with more than 100 snaps, doing so as a two-way player. That is more than two seasons worth of reps for the typical defender.
“A silky-smooth corner, Hunter is excellent in press coverage. In a Cover 2 scheme, he has the ability to undercut routes and make plays on the ball. Hunter has excellent hands and will sacrifice his body to make plays. He has fluid hips that allow him to trail his primary receiver, adjust to a ball thrown in his area and get involved for a PBU. Hunter shows an excellent ability to understand and match offensive patterns, as well as the make-up speed to catch up and make plays on a ball where he is slightly beaten. How will his two-way timeshare look this fall? And could it possibly continue in the NFL?
Of course the Bucs don’t want to be in position to take Hunter next year because that means that Tampa Bay had an unexpectedly miserable season – outside of the team coming into the good fortune of somehow acquiring a first-round draft pick via a trade that winds up being a high selection.
There is still a full college football and NFL season to play later this year, but at this point next year, this could circle back and be an interesting storyline when it comes to who the Bucs target in the 2025 NFL Draft.
