Discovering the Travis Hunter, two-way menace for each NFL group

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded as much as choose WR/CB Travis Hunter No. 2 within the 2025 NFL draft in April. Hunter entered the NFL attempting to do what few different have finished earlier than him — play each offense and protection on a full-time foundation. Whereas the Jaguars are nonetheless attempting to determine the previous Heisman winner's workload within the NFL, Hunter's versatility is revered across the league.

In honor of Hunter's first look on “Monday Evening Soccer” in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), we requested our 32 NFL reporters to search out the very best participant on each group who may have the talents to be a two-way participant. Many performed a number of positions in school or have been utilized in multiple spot already within the NFL. Some picks would possibly shock you.

Let's begin within the AFC:

Soar to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

AFC EAST

LB Shaq Thompson

The Payments do not have a participant that at the moment performs each side of the ball, however Thompson, who joined the group this offseason, has loads of expertise doing so. Whereas in school at Washington, Thompson performed each linebacker and working again and gained the Paul Hornung Award, which honors the nation's most versatile participant. He was additionally drafted by the Boston Crimson Sox within the 2012 MLB draft and performed briefly within the minor leagues as a centerfielder. — Alaina Getzenberg

FB Alec Ingold

Ingold was the Gatorade Participant of the Yr in Wisconsin as a quarterback for Bay Port Excessive Faculty throughout his senior 12 months, throwing for 1,384 yards and 16 touchdowns whereas including one other 2,322 yards and 29 touchdowns on the bottom. Ingold initially dedicated to play quarterback for Northern Illinois earlier than flipping to Wisconsin, the place he briefly performed linebacker earlier than shifting to working again/fullback.

Bonus: Security Minkah Fitzpatrick is another choice right here; he totaled 1,570 complete yards of offense in highschool, together with 887 receiving and 683 speeding, all whereas growing right into a five-star cornerback on the opposite aspect of the ball. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

CB Marcus Jones

Named All-Professional as a punt returner in his 2022 rookie season, Jones' major place was slot cornerback, however the teaching employees additionally blended him in on offense at occasions to attempt to reap the benefits of his elusive motion with the soccer in his fingers (4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD). He performed 18 offensive snaps as a rookie, after which after taking part in only one offensive snap in an injury-shortened 2023 season, Jones noticed 5 snaps on offense in 2024. He has but to play on offense this 12 months. — Mike Reiss

CB Brandon Stephens

Stephens was an all-state working again in Texas, the place he rushed for 1,389 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in highschool. He went to UCLA as a working again, however performed sparingly and determined to modify to cornerback. He transferred to SMU, the place he established himself as nook and acquired drafted by the Ravens. “I all the time had a love for the place,” he mentioned, including that cornerback was “my calling.” — Wealthy Cimini

AFC NORTH

FB Patrick Ricard

Ricard was a trailblazer in 2019 when he turned the primary NFL participant in a decade to play over 100 snaps on offense and protection in the identical season, lining up at fullback and defensive deal with. He hasn't performed protection in six seasons, however he has developed right into a five-time Professional Bowl fullback. Initially a defensive lineman on the College of Maine, Ricard garnered the nickname “Challenge Pat” with the Ravens when he began to separate time at fullback. — Jamison Hensley

LB Logan Wilson

Wilson did all of it as a highschool standout in Wyoming, incomes all-state honors at each defensive again and vast receiver. As a senior, he had 493 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. As a defensive again, he had six interceptions. Oh, and Wilson punted, too. The diploma of issue within the NFL is far increased than it's in Wyoming, nevertheless it's enjoyable to consider what the sixth-year professional Wilson may have appeared like as a two-way athlete, particularly early in his NFL profession. — Ben Child

DT/FB Adin Huntington

The undrafted rookie out of Tulane made the group largely due to his versatility. Huntington, 6-foot-1 and 281 kilos, has performed 61 snaps on protection, and the offense has borrowed him for 17 snaps as a fullback in its jumbo packages (Huntington can also be a mainstay on particular groups). Cleveland has a 58.8% success charge on performs — this may be the very best within the NFL — with Huntington on the sector. “He provides us a cell, huge blocking man that may assist us push the pile ahead … he is constructed like an enormous fullback,” left guard Joel Bitonio mentioned. — Daniel Oyefusi

CB Jalen Ramsey

Ramsey may have been the unique Travis Hunter. In highschool at Brentwood Academy in Tennessee, Ramsey was a cornerback, receiver and working again. Ramsey dropped his offensive obligations in school at Florida State, however at 6-1 and 208 kilos, the bodily Swiss Military knife of a participant undoubtedly may have performed on each side of the ball if given the possibility — particularly contemplating his versatility within the Steelers' secondary this season. And whereas in highschool, he additionally gained a state championship within the decathlon and set a Tennessee state report within the lengthy soar. — Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

CB Derek Stingley Jr.

Stingley's coaches have labeled his ball abilities as among the greatest at his place. He has recorded 10 interceptions prior to now two seasons, together with his first one of many 12 months in opposition to the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. Whereas taking part in highschool soccer in Louisiana, Stingley performed wideout and had a 99-yard landing. He has premier top-end velocity, so he may play each methods if the Texans ever wanted. — DJ Bien-Aime

WR Michael Pittman Jr.

There are few gamers on the roster extra bodily than Pittman, and he carries traits that might make him excel on the linebacker place. He's a relentless blocker on working performs and is fortunately an enforcer when dustups occur. Final week, whereas speaking about taking part in by a fractured bone in his again through the 2024 season, he reveled in his improved well being this season. Pittman mentioned, “I simply get up and I am like, ‘How reckless can I be with out hurting myself as we speak?'” Does that sound like a man you wish to be tackled by? — Stephen Holder

WR/CB Travis Hunter

Hunter (who has embraced the moniker “the unicorn”) has performed 58% of the Jaguars' offensive snaps and 38% of the defensive snaps, and he is second on the group with 13 catches (one forward of vast receiver Brian Thomas Jr.). He is considered one of simply 4 gamers prior to now 25 years to play 15 snaps on offense and protection in the identical sport. Hunter performed a season-high 81 snaps in Week 2 in opposition to the Bengals and 79 snaps the week after, however his complete dipped to 45 in Week 4, so he has but to hit the 100-snap mark. At Colorado, taking part in underneath Deion Sanders, who additionally performed two positions within the NFL at occasions, Hunter averaged 113.5 snaps per sport. — Michael DiRocco

RB Kalel Mullings

Mullings performed two seasons at linebacker for Michigan earlier than switching to working again his junior 12 months. As a sophomore, Mullings appeared in 13 video games on particular groups and at linebacker, registering 11 tackles. Mullings has mentioned his time taking part in linebacker has helped him on offense, giving him a novel “linebacker mentality” and a really feel for what the opponent will do on the defensive aspect of the sport. Particular groups contributions had been an enormous a part of why Mullings, a sixth-round draft choose, made the Titans' roster. — Turron Davenport

AFC WEST

S Talanoa Hufanga

The Broncos have some candidates, on condition that vast receiver Courtland Sutton was a two-sport athlete at SMU (he performed on the college's basketball group) and that reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr Pat Surtain II has made it no secret that he has tried to persuade coach Sean Payton to play him at vast receiver as effectively.

However when Hufanga was at Crescent Valley Excessive Faculty in Corvallis, Oregon, there have been recruiting companies that had him rated the No. 1 “athlete” within the nation due to his work on each side of the ball as a runner, receiver, quarterback and security. In his ultimate two prep seasons, Hufanga had a mixed seven interceptions on protection to go together with 24 speeding touchdowns, 11 receiving touchdowns and 7 landing passes on offense. — Jeff Legwold

QB Patrick Mahomes

We already know Mahomes is without doubt one of the most-talented quarterbacks, however he was additionally a artful security at Whitehouse Excessive Faculty in Texas throughout his sophomore season. He led the Wildcats with a team-high 5 interceptions, incomes all-district honors. Mahomes has the athletic capability and ball abilities to be an efficient security. The lone situation is that he by no means liked tackling in highschool — so that might be his clear weak point on the scouting report. — Nate Taylor

CB Darien Porter

The Raiders' rookie could be the most secure guess to play two positions. Porter was a large receiver in highschool and performed the place for 3 seasons at Iowa State earlier than making the change to defensive again in 2022. If given the chance, Porter mentioned he would not thoughts taking part in each positions. “That is lower than me. I will do it, however we'll see,” he mentioned. — Ryan McFadden

FB/DT Scott Matlock

Matlock is the one participant in a grey jersey at Chargers apply, guaranteeing he can change from offense to protection with out complicated anybody. Matlock is crucial to the Chargers' offense; the group could have him one-on-one with an opponent's greatest edge rusher or catching a move out of the backfield. On protection, he's a rotational participant on the inside and had a sack final season. — Kris Rhim

NFC EAST

CB Trevon Diggs

Diggs opened his school profession at Alabama as a large receiver and caught 11 passes for 88 yards and a landing as a freshman. His ball abilities have been on show his total professional profession — though he has simply three interceptions in his previous 17 video games. With CeeDee Lamb out, the Cowboys appear to be OK at receiver, however perhaps in a pinch Diggs would assist.

Bonus: Operating again Javonte Williams was a tackling machine in highschool, so linebacker is in his repertoire — Todd Archer

QB Jaxson Dart

Have you ever seen Dart play? It is a participant who relishes contact. Dart informed ESPN lately that he was a linebacker rising up. His dad, Brandon, performed security on the College of Utah. His brother, Diesel, is a security at Nook Canyon Excessive Faculty, the place his older brother additionally performed. The physicality is ingrained in Dart, who used his throwing arm to stiff-arm a defender in his first profession begin. Fifteen of Dart's 54 speeding yards (28%) have come after contact. That is extra a security/linebacker mentality than quarterback. — Jordan Raanan

DB Cooper DeJean

Simply watch DeJean's pick-six of Mahomes in Tremendous Bowl LIX and you may see he has the fingers, imaginative and prescient and strikes to play some offense. Put him within the slot and let him work. He starred on offense in highschool in Iowa and set faculty profession data in passing yards, passing TDs, completions and receiving TDs. He was a standout in basketball, baseball and observe as effectively, displaying he is greater than able to being multifaceted. — Tim McManus

CB Mike Sainristil

Sainristil already has proven he will be an efficient nook within the NFL — he is greatest suited inside however performed exterior out of necessity final 12 months and dealt with it effectively. He has intercepted three passes within the NFL and has began 20 video games. However his versatility wasn't a shock to Washington due to what he confirmed at Michigan. He was a standout receiver — with 28 profession landing receptions — and defensive again in highschool and began his profession on offense in school. Sainristil performed receiver his first three seasons and caught 38 passes for 546 yards and 5 touchdowns. He then moved to nook for his ultimate two years and intercepted seven passes. — John Keim

NFC NORTH

WR Jahdae Walker

Walker was the one undrafted rookie to make the 53-man roster after Chicago's brass turned enamored with the high-motor power he put into each coaching camp apply and preseason sport. Nothing showcased that greater than when he scored the Bears' go-ahead TD within the two-minute drill after which recorded the game-sealing deal with on the very subsequent kickoff to assist Chicago come from behind to beat the Chiefs within the third sport of the preseason. Walker was a two-way standout at Shaker Heights Excessive Faculty in Ohio, the place he caught 19 passes for 431 yards and 5 touchdowns and recorded 55 tackles, 9 move breakups, 6 pressured fumbles and a couple of interceptions as a senior. — Courtney Cronin

S Kerby Joseph

Joseph led the NFL with 9 interceptions final season and has been capable of showcase his elite catching capability regardless of starring on protection. Joseph additionally performed vast receiver throughout his junior season (2020) at Illinois, which has helped him develop elite ball abilities as a First-Group All-Professional NFL security. That two-way expertise may probably assist him play each side of the ball, if mandatory, inside a Lions offense recognized for being inventive with trick performs. Nonetheless, he hasn't logged any offensive reps within the NFL. — Eric Woodyard

CB/WR Bo Melton

For his first two seasons in Inexperienced Bay, Melton performed receiver. In actual fact, he has a 100-yard sport to his credit score (105 vs. Minnesota in 2023). This summer time, he switched to cornerback, the identical place his brother Max performs for the Cardinals. Bo Melton switched his quantity from 80 to 16, performed completely on protection within the preseason and made the group as a cornerback. Nonetheless, he has not taken a snap on protection but this season. He performed three snaps at receiver in Week 3 as a result of the Packers had been skinny on the place however in any other case has performed solely on particular groups. — Rob Demovsky

CB Isaiah Rodgers

The Vikings haven't any apparent candidates, so let's nominate Rodgers — who has already scored two defensive touchdowns this season and likewise hit the very best sport velocity recorded within the NFL Subsequent Gen Stats period. Rodgers acquired to 23.32 mph whereas chasing Steelers receiver DK Metcalf throughout the sector on an 80-yard landing. At UMass in 2019, Rodgers fielded 53 kick returns for 1,415 yards, each of which ranked No. 1 amongst all FBS gamers that season. Rodgers has been begging Vikings coaches to permit him to return kickoffs, however he has been too priceless on protection to threat a particular groups harm. Nonetheless, it is simple to examine Rodgers lining up as a large receiver and easily outrunning defensive backs to an open area. — Kevin Seifert

NFC SOUTH

LB Troy Andersen

Whereas Andersen's harm points have saved him off the sector for a lot of the previous two seasons, he was a flexible two-way participant at Montana State. Andersen performed working again and linebacker as a real freshman, then moved to quarterback as a sophomore and set the college report for many speeding touchdowns in a single season (21). He moved again to taking part in primarily linebacker as a junior, although he nonetheless noticed time at working again, beginning three video games on each side of the ball. Andersen nonetheless owns the Montana State report for many speeding yards in a single sport (211) and he is second in profession speeding touchdowns (33). — Marc Raimondi

WR David Moore

Moore will get the nod right here though he simply went on the injured reserve with an elbow harm. Moore has no expertise on protection, however his coaches say Moore may play cornerback in a crunch if mandatory due to his versatility. He has been a prime contributor on particular groups as a gunner and has been constant as a receiver and runner on reverses that led to his harm. — David Newton

TE Taysom Hill

The do-everything participant, who returned Sunday from the bodily unable to carry out record, has performed quarterback, tight finish and fullback within the NFL and has thrown for, caught and run for touchdowns. He was a highschool quarterback in Idaho who additionally kicked and punted, and he even performed defensive again and linebacker in a pinch. The Saints lately mentioned Hill might be their emergency long-snapper. Former Saints coach Dennis Allen has mentioned he believes Hill may have performed linebacker within the NFL, though that by no means got here to fruition. — Katherine Terrell

DT Vita Vea

Vea could be pushing 347 kilos, and his house is all the time going to be defensive position, however he additionally performed working again at Milpitas Excessive Faculty in California, the place he had 13 speeding touchdowns his senior 12 months and averaged 12.3 yards per keep it up 47 carries. Within the NFL, he has lined up a few occasions on offense on the objective line, turning into the heaviest participant to attain an offensive landing in league historical past in 2019 with a 1-yard landing catch in opposition to the Falcons. — Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson

A security for the Cardinals who's seeing important taking part in time, Taylor-Demerson has a storied historical past on the offensive aspect of the ball. He was the Oklahoma 5A Participant of the Yr as a senior in highschool at working again and was additionally named the Large All-Metropolis Offensive Participant of the Yr. As a senior, he had 1,365 speeding yards and 24 TDs and led his group to its third straight Class 5A state championship. — Josh Weinfuss

LB Jared Verse

Puka Nacua mentioned he'd wish to see exterior linebacker Verse at tight finish. “I believe that might be fascinating to see,” Nacua mentioned. “I believe we may put him in some motions and put loads of defenses in some bother.” Verse performed on each side of the ball his senior 12 months of highschool, catching 15 passes for 385 yards to go together with his 14 tackles and three pressured fumbles. — Sarah Barshop

LB Dee Winters

Winters discovered a house at linebacker in school (TCU) and within the NFL and has emerged as one of many group's greatest younger gamers up to now this season. However there was a time when Winters was a jack-of-all-trades who did a bit of the whole lot for tiny Burton Excessive in Texas. There, Winters posted over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns as a receiver whereas additionally taking part in quarterback, working again, defensive again, linebacker and even punter. Given his dimension (5-11, 227 kilos), he'd in all probability match as extra of a working again or H-back sort within the NFL, however his expertise taking part in all around the area would appear to assist him if he wanted to do extra than simply play linebacker. — Nick Wagoner

CB Riq Woolen

With a 6-foot-4 body, a 4.26-second 40-yard sprint and a 42-inch vertical soar, Woolen has the form of measurables and athletic capability that might give him an opportunity to catch passes for a dwelling and never simply defend them. He started his school profession as a large receiver, catching 24 passes for 263 yards and a landing over his freshman and sophomore seasons at UTSA. However with Woolen taking part in sparingly and the Roadrunners in want of assist at cornerback, he agreed to play protection late in his sophomore season, a change that might put him on a path to creating the Professional Bowl and ending tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with six as a rookie fifth-round choose in 2022. — Brady Henderson