In Bleacher Report’s latest 2024 NFL re-draft, analyst Kristopher Knox made a bold—and perhaps brilliant—move for the Las Vegas Raiders: instead of drafting a quarterback, he selected Travis Hunter, the electrifying two-way star from Colorado.
At first glance, it’s a surprising decision. Big-name quarterbacks like Brock Purdy, 2x NFC West Champion, Bryce Young, J.J. McCarthy, and 2025’s No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward were still available. Given the league’s obsession with securing franchise quarterbacks, it would’ve been easy for the Raiders to take the traditional route.
But Knox zagged where others might have zigged, and his logic is hard to argue with.
“A tough choice between All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter,” Knox explained in the re-draft. “That said, a player who can be an All-Pro/Pro Bowler at two positions is better than an elite single-position player. Bowers is proven, but Hunter’s upside is too much to pass up in this spot.”
Why the Las Vegas Raiders Passed on a Quarterback to Take Travis Hunter in Bleacher Report’s Re-Draft
The Raiders’ decision to take Hunter reflects a growing recognition around the NFL: sometimes, the best long-term move isn’t to chase the quarterback carousel, but to secure generational talent elsewhere and address the signal-caller spot later. That’s the path the Jaguars took in April when they gave up a future first-round pick to move up to No. 2 and select Hunter. Their thinking? One pick, two elite players—a No. 1 receiver and a shutdown cornerback.
And it’s not just upside and versatility that make Hunter a unicorn. Behind the charisma, dance moves, and pajama pants he wore under his graduation gown, teammates and executives see a ferocious competitor.
“As you dig in and watch him play, and how he approached it, you understand this is an elite competitor,” said Hall of Famer and Jaguars EVP Tony Boselli. “This is a guy who’s focused on being the best Travis Hunter he can be, maximizing his skillset, his God-given skillset.”
Hunter’s ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball made him a coveted target—and one Jacksonville aggressively pursued. General Manager James Gladstone, Boselli, and new head coach Liam Coen worked behind the scenes for nearly a month to orchestrate the trade with Cleveland. It all hinged on Tennessee taking Cam Ward at No. 1, clearing the way for Hunter to become a Jaguar at No. 2.
“We felt like it was worth the price we were going to pay to get an individual like Travis Hunter,” Boselli said. “We kept a very tight circle; it was very quiet.”
Now, Knox has given the Raiders that same opportunity in his re-draft. And with stars like Maxx Crosby anchoring the defense and a flexible draft strategy that allows for a quarterback in later rounds, it’s a swing for the fences that makes plenty of sense.
Travis Hunter might not be the prototypical pick for a team in need of a quarterback—but he just might be the kind of player who redefines the Raiders’ identity on both sides of the ball.