A recent claim circulating online suggests that the New England Patriots have reached an agreement with Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter on a five-year, $78 million contract, including $36 million in guaranteed money. While the Patriots are expected to be active in the upcoming NFL Draft and Hunter is one of the most talented prospects, such a report appears to be highly misleading.
Why the Report is Unlikely to be True
First, NFL teams cannot officially negotiate contracts with draft prospects before they are selected in the NFL Draft. Hunter, a projected top pick, has yet to be drafted, making it impossible for the Patriots or any team to offer him a contract at this stage. Rookie contracts are also determined by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which sets strict salary structures based on draft position. If Hunter is selected in the top five, his contract would be dictated by the rookie pay scale rather than a negotiated free-agent-style deal.
Second, the structure of the reported contract is highly unrealistic. A five-year, $78 million contract with $36 million guaranteed would be unprecedented for a rookie. In comparison, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams, is expected to sign a four-year deal worth around $40 million total, with a fifth-year team option. Even top rookie cornerbacks in previous drafts have signed deals significantly lower than the one rumored for Hunter.
Patriots’ Interest in Hunter
Despite the unlikely nature of this contract report, there is significant speculation that the Patriots could target Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter, a dynamic two-way player who excels as both a cornerback and wide receiver, is widely regarded as a generational talent. His skill set could be particularly appealing to a Patriots team looking to rebuild under new head coach Mike Vrabel and front-office executive Eliot Wolf.
With the Patriots expected to have a top draft pick, they are in prime position to select a player like Hunter, provided they don’t prioritize a quarterback instead. The team has struggled in recent years following the departure of Tom Brady, and acquiring high-impact young talent will be a major priority in the draft.
The Reality of Rookie Contracts
If the Patriots were to draft Hunter, his contract would follow the NFL rookie wage scale, meaning his deal would likely resemble that of recent top defensive draft picks. In 2024, the No. 2 overall pick, defensive end Will Anderson Jr., signed a four-year, $35.2 million fully guaranteed contract with the Houston Texans, which is a more realistic benchmark for what Hunter might receive.
Conclusion
While the Patriots could very well be interested in Travis Hunter, there is no credible evidence that they have already agreed to a contract with him. Any reports suggesting a deal of this magnitude are likely based on speculation or misinformation. The true outcome will be determined after the 2025 NFL Draft, where Hunter is expected to be one of the first players off the board.
