Mel Kiper Jr. 2025 NFL Draft Rankings: Travis Hunter No. 1; Beck Tops Shedeur Sanders

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 6, 2024

Louis Grasse/Getty Images

The NFL clearly has its eyes on Colorado’s top playmakers.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest big board of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL draft on Friday, and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is No. 1 overall. His teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, is No. 9 overall.

Sanders is not the top quarterback, though, as that honor belongs to Georgia’s Carson Beck at No. 8 overall. Beck was dialed in during the Bulldogs’ season-opening blowout win over Dabo Swinney’s Clemson program and went 23-of-33 for 278 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, Tennessee defensive end James Pearce, Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams and Georgia safety Malaki Starks round out the top five—signaling a possible sea change after offensive prospects flew off the board early and often in the 2024 draft.

In fact, a defensive player wasn’t chosen until the Indianapolis Colts selected UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 15 overall.

Hunter stands out from that strong defensive group as a rare playmaker who is versatile enough to be a No. 1 overall wide receiver and lock down the opponent’s top option at cornerback at the same time.

He shined in the season-opening win over North Dakota State with seven catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns to go with three tackles defensively.

He caught those touchdowns from Sanders, who has shown the ability to make plays with his arm and legs all while playing behind a porous offensive line. Sanders has to put the offense on his back for extended stretches, and NFL teams are clearly taking notice if he is so high on Kiper’s board.

Colorado is attempting to bounce back from a disappointing 4-8 record in head coach Deion Sanders’ first season, and having two of the top NFL draft prospects is an ideal way to do just that.