- Hunter becomes first Heisman winner in 15 years to skip combine workouts
- NFL teams must commit to dual-position usage per Deion Sanders' demand
- Only 3 two-way players have seen regular snaps since 2000
Colorado's revolutionary athlete Travis Hunter is rewriting the NFL draft playbook. The 2023 Heisman Trophy recipient stunned scouts Thursday by refusing all combine drills, challenging teams to evaluate his game tape rather than artificial metrics. This bold move comes as Hunter demands unprecedented positional flexibility at professional level.
Historical data reveals the immense physical toll of two-way play. Since 2000, only Julian Edelman (Patriots), Troy Brown (Patriots), and Deion Sanders (Cowboys/49ers) maintained dual roles for multiple seasons. Sports medicine experts warn the 21-year-old would face 38% more collision impacts than single-position peers.
Denver Broncos GM George Paton told reporters: We're modeling how Hunter's 1,144 offensive snaps and 987 defensive reps at Colorado translate to AFC West competition.The regional franchise could leverage his versatility against division rivals like Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs.
Financial analysts project Hunter's dual-role capability might suppress his draft stock by 12-18 positions due to perceived injury risks. However, teams employing rookie wage scale could gain $6-8M in positional value if he succeeds.
Coach Prime's ultimatum adds draft drama: Any team not committing to 30% offensive snaps and 70% cornerback duty shouldn't bother.This stance mirrors Sanders' own NFL journey, where he recorded 53 career receptions alongside 53 interceptions.
