Can Travis Hunter Make History by Claiming Both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year?

The 2025 NFL Draft has officially concluded, and it was quite the spectacle.

Certain events unfolded as anticipated, while others were utterly unexpected. This is part of the allure of the draft: There is always something that transpires to surprise us.

With the aftermath fully settling on the outcomes, we thought now would be the ideal moment for us at The Skinny Post, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, to discuss some of the more significant events that took place throughout it all.

Let’s get started.

Mel Kiper seemed to lose composure on live TV, declaring that the NFL has been oblivious regarding quarterback evaluation for over 50 years. Was this the kettle calling the pot black?

Michael:

It seemed so unexpected. The Shedeur Sanders discussion was unsurprisingly at the forefront of all NFL Draft coverage due to a fall that absolutely no one outside an NFL team foresaw.

After Sanders was drafted by the Browns in the fifth round, Kiper launched into a strange, emotional, and lengthy tirade criticizing NFL evaluators for their failure to accurately assess quarterbacks over the past five decades. To borrow a phrase from the Gen Z playbook, it was super “cringe.” It was painful to observe from the person many consider the “godfather” of modern draft analysis.

Here’s the reality: Kiper is the same person who stated he’d retire if former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen failed to succeed in the NFL (he didn’t). He also believed JaMarcus Russell would be the next John Elway (he wasn’t). To further add to it, he was a strong advocate for Lamar Jackson transitioning to wide receiver for a greater chance of succeeding professionally (spoiler alert: Jackson has multiple MVPs as a quarterback).

Is this, in some manner, the onset of the decline for Kiper as a credible draft commentator? I recognize that may sound a bit exaggerated, but there are numerous young, emerging draft analysts who could easily step in and offer the same, if not superior, coverage of NFL draft talent over all three days. I’m already observing individuals on X mentioning the notion of sidelining Kiper for next year.

I’m not certain I oppose that viewpoint.

RJ:

To be completely honest, I don’t have an incredibly fervent opinion on this matter.

It was certainly foreseeable that there would be strong, deeply rooted sentiments regarding Sanders’ decline—possibly a reason why he did so if we allow ourselves to consider broader perspectives—and Mel Kiper undeniably displayed passion in his stance.

I believe it’s acceptable for him to assert that he viewed the scenario as ridiculous and unjust while not denouncing the overarching process. To suggest that any individual is batting above .250 at evaluating NFL Draft talent is misleading. I understand that Michael mentioned Kiper’s past evaluation errors, but everyone makes mistakes. We all have strong beliefs about something that doesn’t materialize or assume a player will fail who ends up flourishing.

If I have a major takeaway, it’s that sometimes it’s alright to admit you don’t understand what’s happening. In Shedeur’s case, there were clearly assumptions regarding his notoriety disrupting everything, but speculating about anything is really just advanced guesswork. Personally, I would have been fine if Kiper or anyone else had suggested something like, “look I can’t believe this is happening… I have no rational reason for it.”

At times, that’s more than adequate.

Close your eyes and envision the future… who is taking home OROTY?

Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

RJ:

There are several choices available, clearly. Tennessee’s Cam Ward makes a lot of sense and benefits from being a quarterback… perhaps someone like Jaxson Dart will astonish us by entering the conversation and taking the lead.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason to overanalyze this, so I’m going with Travis Hunter. The Jaguars moved up to select him and most likely didn’t do so for him to not be a key component of their overall strategy. Trevor Lawrence needs a bounce-back season… the logic is too compelling.

For what it’s worth, I haven’t encountered much talk of “Travis Hunter could secure BOTH Rookie of the Year honors,” but I will hedge my bet a bit and confidently predict he’ll win at least one.

Michael:

As much as I dislike acknowledging it, I believe new Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is going to dominate the award this year (pun definitely intended).

The Raiders did acquire their new starting quarterback by trading for Geno Smith, but I just can’t see how Pete Carroll won’t utilize Jeanty to his full potential. I can already envision it. Smith is going to bombard tight end Brock Bowers with a plethora of targets because Jeanty’s efficiency will keep play-action options wide open. The latter will be heavily utilized, heavily, and heavily on the way to claiming the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year title, shortly after his new teammate Bowers accomplished it in 2024.

And yes, I am quite distressed knowing that the Chargers will have to contend with the Raiders and Jeanty twice a year for the foreseeable future. It’s not entirely the same, but it feels reminiscent of when I realized Patrick Mahomes was going to be phenomenal and that I’d have to witness his dominance over the Bolts yearly after I had advocated for him to be LA’s pick at No. 7 that year over Mike Williams.

Which team assembled your favorite draft class?

Michael:

Numerous teams shared photos on X of their entire draft classes following the conclusion of day three. The one class that truly made me pause was the Seattle Seahawks. This is a team that amazed me with their cohort that was filled with size and athleticism.

Their first-round choice, offensive guard Grey Zabel, was among the safest selections for an offensive lineman in the class. He stands at 6’6” and is a powerhouse. Seattle then complemented that selection by drafting South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, a 6’3”, 220-pound safety who stunned at the NFL Combine.

The final two selections on Day 2 were Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. Once again, two players with immense athletic prowess and dynamic play-making talent. The Seahawks don’t even require a quarterback, but the offensive

The individuals present in the room will likely devise a method to incorporate the elusive Milroe onto the field to impact their squad as a newcomer.

Lastly, I must highlight their fifth-round choice of Alabama fullback/tight end Robbie Outzs. This individual boasted the finest mustache at the NFL Combine and he is a powerhouse.

There’s an abundance to appreciate about this collective. Having been the sole 10-win team in the NFL to forfeit a playoff spot in 2024, anticipate the Seahawks to be exceptionally driven to avoid that predicament again.

RJ:

It saddens me to admit this, but I genuinely admire what the New York Giants accomplished.

To clarify, I think the clever franchises like the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens performed their usual strategies, yet I believe the Giants are at least one step closer to remedying the issues that have plagued them for over a decade (longer if we consider that their two Super Bowl victories were remarkable, but also a result of tremendous fortune).

I am a proud Arizona State Sun Devil and thus disheartened that Cam Skattebo will be competing against my Dallas Cowboys twice each season for the foreseeable future. The reality is that the Giants have started to form a solid core of young offensive talent in Skattebo and (naturally) quarterback Jaxson Dart… oh, and Abdul Carter now has the chance to disrupt plays and possibly ease the burden for Kayvon Thibodeaux.

It’s exceedingly effortless for a team like the Eagles, as mentioned, to maintain their elite status. That’s rather dull.

Watching the Giants take a significant leap forward deserves commendation.

What was the most “of course” draft selection of the entire group?

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

RJ:

Anyone who observed the College Football Playoff recognized that Jack Sawyer was destined to be an exciting selection for whoever ultimately secured him. The play he executed for Ohio State to wrap up the Cotton Bowl against the Longhorns was legendary.

It was the type of play that elite defensive athletes like T.J. Watt deliver, so naturally, fate led Sawyer to the Pittsburgh Steelers. By all accounts, Sawyer appears to be a person who will tirelessly persevere, making him an ideal match for the Steel City.

If I may add, I’ll mention that Will Howard, Sawyer’s Ohio State quarterback, landing in Pittsburgh is a topic we haven’t sufficiently discussed. I know we speculate whether Aaron Rodgers will ultimately sign there, but Howard represents a project worth developing for the future at the very least.

Michael:

Jack Sawyer is an excellent choice here.

For my part, I can’t help but highlight a team that — without skipping a beat each year — manages to draft an athlete who had no right being available when they were on the clock in the first round. Unsurprisingly, I’m referring to the Philadelphia Eagles somehow getting the opportunity to select Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell at No. 31 when he was anticipated to be off the board anywhere from No. 8 to No. 15.

In a draft class that lacked standout talent at the off-ball linebacker position, the Eagles capitalized and secured the top player in a role that seems to have been undervalued in recent years. Simultaneously, if you observe the franchises that have found the most success lately, they tend to feature a solid player in the middle. Consider Zack Baun who was signed by the Eagles this offseason. The 49ers and Fred Warner. The Ravens and Roquan Smith. There appears to be a pattern here.

The Eagles didn’t even NEED Campbell, yet they chose him anyway because they truly believe in the principle of selecting the best player available and I can assure you — on more than one occasion this upcoming season — we’ll be observing the Eagles defense excel and think to ourselves, “I can’t believe they were permitted to draft this guy.”

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