Patriots Draft Profile: Travis Hunter Isn’t Class’ Only Two-Way Prospect

The New England Patriots might not have an opportunity to draft Travis Hunter, but they could still target a two-way star.

Hunter is expected to be among the most coveted players in the 2025 NFL Draft, as the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants could all look to target him with one of the top three selections. Mike Vrabel also seems to love the guy, but there’s a very small chance that he’ll be available at No. 4.

J.J. Pegues, on the other hand, will be available deep into the draft, so why not take a run at him?

---

OVERVIEW

Pegues isn’t a gimmick, so for as much as we’ll talk about his potential on both sides of a ball, it’s his capabilities along the defensive line that make him so valuable.

The 2025 NFL Draft has incredible defensive line depth, which unfortunately means quality players without elite traits have been pushed further down the board than they typically would be. Pegues is one of them, but for being without something that truly jumps off the page, he’s still a damn-good football player.

Ole Miss recognized that and helped him develop into an every-down player of the defensive side of the football while watching him set records on the offensive side. How could you not like the guy?

NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

Pegues put together a decent enough showing at the combine, if not unspectacular.

Height: 6′ 2 1/2″
Weight: 309lbs
Hand: 9 3/8″
Arm: 32 1/2″
Wingspan: 78 3/4″

40-Yard Dash: 5.15 seconds
Vertical Jump: 27 1/2″

STRENGTHS

Pegues is built to have success at the point of attack, as his stout frame allows him to establish leverage and dictate play direction — a positive in his roles as a fullback and defensive tackle. The Rebels typically used him in short-yardage situations offensively, which gave him an opportunity to showcase his lateral agility and burst.

How did playing both ways help him develop?

Pegues is an extremely quick processor, taking his experience as an offensive force to help him identify running schemes and adequately respond, whether it be flowing against zone runs or keeping gap integrity and defeating combo blocks.

WEAKNESSES

Does he have extremely long arms? No. Has he been given opportunities to develop rushing the passer? No. Can he create havoc in the run game consistently? No.

Pegues has a ton of great qualities, but his ceiling appears to be pretty limited. The Patriots need more than a high-floor role player, so anything more than a Day 3 selection would feel like too much.

IN WHAT WORLD DOES HE FIT?

Pegues isn’t going to provide an immediate impact on all three downs, but he’ll be a tremendous bit player.

The Patriots can’t exactly spend premium draft capital on a bit player, though, can they?

New England is expected to reintroduce the fullback now that Josh McDaniels is back calling plays, so that’s a start. Davon Godchaux is also expected to be traded, so there’s room for a cheap early-down run-stuffer, which is another decent indicator they could target the versatile two-way dynamo.

It’s extremely unlikely they’ll be ready to invest when he’s expected to come off the board, though. The Patriots would only be willing to take him in the third or fourth round if they’ve already made major upgrades to the defensive line and filled other needs throughout free agency and the early portion of the draft — which unfortunately isn’t very likely.

If you’d like more individual profiles, check out our full series.