Remember when Rob Gronkowski chalked down the Julian Edelman Route for Travis Hunter in the pro football? The Gronk said: “It’ll be too hard to go both ways and play all downs on both sides, but there’s a lot of players who did that. Julian Edelman, back in the day, played offense, played defense, played special teams sporadically, all over the place.” That’s what he opined on the topic of Travis Hunter’s dual threat on both sides of the ball.

However, that same Edelman has closed the Patriots’ door for Hunter. On the Dudes on Dudes podcast, when Rob asked him, “Browns, Giants, or the Patriots, what do you think, where’s he [Hunter] going?” Edelman didn’t jump on the bandwagon as he said, “I don’t think he’s going to the Browns or the Giants… I don’t think the Patriots are going to get him, either.” Now, that’s something!

Because almost all the mock drafts haven’t messed up two key details in the top 3 — mentioning Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter — this has created an awkward situation, with Hunter’s draft stock dropping so low that being picked in the first round is practically out of the question.

This is when people start throwing franchise names into the mix. However, when they stumbled upon the Jaguars, Edelman didn’t sugarcoat his opinion. Regarding Hunter’s future, he doesn’t want to see the Colorado star end up somewhere forgettable. “I don’t want him to go to the Jags,” he said — with Gronk in agreement.

If that sounds harsh to Jacksonville fans, well, take it with a pinch of salt because you’re part of how NFL veterans think. You don’t just draft talent. You pair it with the right city, the right energy, and the right expectations.

And Edelman’s not just throwing shade. He knows the game—and the business—inside out. “I bet you the Jags pick him up though,” he added, as if predicting a future he’s already bracing for. Because yeah, Hunter’s that good. As a WR? 96 recs., 1,258 rec. yds, 15 TDs, and 13.1 Yds per Catch. As a CB? 25 solo tackles, 11 asst. tackles, 32 total tackles, and 4 INTs.

Gronk? He doubled down on that vibe. “It needs to be a fun market for Travis Hunter.” Not just fun to watch. Fun to live. Gronk dropped names—New York, New England—and even said Cleveland would be better than Jacksonville. Ouch. But here’s the deal: these guys see something in Hunter that screams “superstar.” And superstars don’t just play games—they put franchises on posters.

There might be a stronger case in pitching for this superstar for the Pats

Let’s say the Patriots miss out on Travis Hunter. Julian Edelman’s right… Painful, right? But it’s not totally off the table. With the fourth pick, there’s a real chance Hunter’s long gone before New England even gets to uncap the Sharpie. And if Abdul Carter’s snatched too? Suddenly, Bill Belichick’s old office chair starts feeling a little hotter in Foxborough.

So here comes the curveball—Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Yup, a running back. Michael DeVito of Musket Fire made the case loud and clear: “Jeanty is a one-man offense.” That’s not just flattery—that’s a full-blown campaign pitch. DeVito even pulled out the Eagles-Saquon Barkley comparison. “Added to quarterback Jalen Hurts, his production propelled the Eagles to the title.” Sounds good, right?

Jeanty’s numbers? In 2024, Jeanty had 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on 374 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. And in his college career, Jeanty has 4,769 yards on 750 carries with 500 TDs. The Patriots can’t afford to let him go simply if there’s a need for a runner.

Philly also has a wall of monsters up front and a receiver duo that gives defensive coordinators nightmares. New England? Still figuring out if the O-line can even block a wind gust. Even with Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins now in the mix, this receiving group isn’t exactly a Madden cheat code.

That’s what makes Jeanty such a fascinating—maybe even risky—plan B. He’s explosive, no doubt. But in today’s NFL, you don’t build around a back. You plug them in once the machine’s humming. And right now, the Patriots’ offense sounds more like a stalled lawnmower.

But here’s the flip side: If Jeanty is that guy—if he really is “a one-man offense”—then why not take the swing? The Patriots aren’t exactly swimming in firepower. If Hunter’s off the board, and you want a playmaker that fans will actually buy a ticket for, Jeanty might be the wildcard this rebuild needs. High risk? For sure. But maybe—just maybe—high reward, too.