Take Hunter, Not Grant”: Ex-GM Urges Bills to Trade Up Ahead of Draft

Buffalo, NY – March 25, 2025

The Buffalo Bills sit at a crossroads with the No. 30 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum has a bold message for GM Brandon Beane: trade up for Travis Hunter instead of settling for Kenneth Grant. In a recent ESPN mock draft, Tannenbaum projected the Bills moving up to snag the Colorado star, arguing that Hunter’s two-way brilliance could push Buffalo past their AFC playoff nemesis, the Chiefs. With Josh Allen locked in as QB, the Bills aren’t hunting for a signal-caller, but their secondary and receiving corps need a jolt after losing key pieces.

Hunter’s college stats are jaw-dropping: over 1,100 snaps at cornerback and wide receiver, with 1,152 yards, 11 TDs as a WR, and 4 interceptions, 31 tackles as a CB in 2024, per NFL.com. His versatility earned him a Biletnikoff Award nod and a PFF grade of 90.1, making him a top-5 lock. Tannenbaum highlighted Buffalo’s 2024 pass defense woes—19th in yards per attempt (4.51)—and lack of a true WR1 since Stefon Diggs’ exit. Hunter could pair with Christian Benford to lock down corners or give Allen a dynamic target, outshining rookie Keon Coleman’s output.

Trading up from 30 to the top 10 could cost a 2025 first-rounder, a 2026 second-rounder, and more, a steep price for a Bills team with just $3.9 million in cap space (Spotrac). Fans on X are torn: “Hunter’s a unicorn—go get him!” tweeted @BillsMafia4Life, while @JaySkurski countered, “Grant’s the need—stay put.” If Beane lands Hunter, he could transform Buffalo into a two-way juggernaut, but it’d mean outbidding teams like the Giants or Raiders. For Michigan, losing Grant (a fan-favored DT alternative) would sting less than Colorado parting with Hunter. As draft day looms, Tannenbaum’s call puts pressure on Beane: swing big for Hunter or stick to the plan?