Over the last few months, the Patriots have been the leading favorite to land Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter with the fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft. He is unanimously considered the best prospect of the incoming class at both positions, and because of that, he would fill two needs on the Patriots roster.
There is a good chance he could record snaps on offense and defense throughout his NFL career. Now that Mike Vrabel is the new head coach, his experience with making that balance would immediately help Hunter's transition into the league. He would be a solid weapon for Drake Maye to work with, too, especially if he were to spend more time on offense, but the Patriots might run into a problem with accomplishing this potential dream.
Because Hunter is widely regarded, there is a high possibility that he won't fall into the Patriots' lap in the first round, forcing them to look elsewhere for the player they want to pick. That has prompted a lot of conversation about the next best wide receiver, Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, even more so after he impressed at his Pro Day earlier this week.
He has been a name attached to the Patriots over the past several weeks because of Hunter's increasing odds he'll be off the board by No. 4, but some are a bit hesitant about McMillan's fitness as the WR1, which is something the Patriots might want to listen to.
Steve Smith Sr. is not convinced that Tetairoa McMillian is a true WR1
With Drake Maye as the center of attention for the rest of the offseason, there is a serious need to add quality talent around him at wide receiver. Because their options are limited in free agency after missing out on some of the best available players to sign or trade for, the Patriots' best chance to add that caliber of player is through the draft, with McMillan rising in the ranks in recent weeks.
The problem with that plan is the increased chatter about the Arizona product being the kind of player wide receiver-needy teams are looking for. That's something former All-Pro receiver Steve Smith Sr. is concerned about, as he believes he is far from a WR1.
“He’s a No. 1rankedwide receiver, but he’s not a No. 1 wide receiver. I think he leaves a lot of plays on the field. I don’t think he has the ability to dominate. I think he’s a jump-ball guy, but I don’t see his route tree being very elaborate.”
This is, of course, just one man's opinion and shouldn't necessarily deter the Patriots from considering him as a potential selection. However, given how respected Smith was as a player and now analyst, his impression of McMillan is noteworthy and doesn't feel like a reach for a wide receiver class that isn't very highly regarded as it is.
The Patriots can't afford to miss with their first-round pick, so they need to be sure he hits nearly every checkmark on the list, no matter what position he plays. That includes looking at McMillan and if they genuinely feel he is the next best option if Hunter is off the board.
There is still plenty of time to really study his tape and decide if he would be a good fit for Maye and within Josh McDaniels' offense. If not, there's plenty of reason to support the Patriots trading down if Hunter is not on the board by No. 4, which would still allow them to get a receiver later on.