‘Growing belief’ Browns will draft Travis Hunter No. 2 overall

Patriots

Abdul Carter was the previous betting favorite to be drafted No. 2 overall.

The NFL draft is less than three weeks away, and the Patriots hold a top-five pick that could play a pivotal role in their rebuild.

However, recent reports surrounding the team’s picking ahead of New England, namely the Browns and Giants, have not been ideal regarding where the Patriots stand and who may still be available for them.

The Athletic‘s Jeff Howe reported Saturday that there is “growing belief” around the NFL that Cleveland will draft Hunter No. 2 overall. Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter had been the favorite to land with the Browns since March, when ESPN’s Adam Schefter appeared on “NFL Live” and reported that Abdul Carter was “shaking up to be” a Brown.

Following Howe’s report, Hunter shifted to be the betting favorite to go No. 2 overall, leapfrogging Carter on popular sportsbooks FanDuel and DraftKings.

Hunter ran routes with Shedeur Sanders at Colorado’s pro day on Friday and showed off his hands, catching passes without gloves on. The 2024 Heisman winner has been tabbed by some as both the top corner and top receiver in the 2025 Draft class.

New England’s situation already looks somewhat bleak for the draft, as Shedeur Sanders is not currently expected to be picked in the top three, meaning the Patriots would miss on the top two non-quarterback prospects. But now, even if Sanders is a top-three pick, it’s increasingly likely that Hunter still won’t be available at No. 4 no matter what.

Of course, “settling” for a blue-chip prospect like Carter would still be best case scenario if he slides to No. 4. But the Patriots are still looking for more offensive firepower, and Hunter would have filled a bigger need, providing another star for Drake Maye to target while featuring on defense as well.

It’s more likely by the day that New England won’t get a chance to see the Maye-Hunter connection develop. And if both Hunter and Carter are off the board, as is the general expectation, the Patriots will likely have to turn to that pick for a left tackle, or use it to trade down for increased draft capital.

The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 24.