Hunter faces immense pressure and injury concerns. Can this rare two-way talent deliver on his colossal draft gamble and lofty Heisman hype?
Just one year into his NFL career, Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter is a favorite topic among NFL fans and commentators.
On April 1, Bleacher Report's Alex Kay pitched who he thinks are eight NFL players, coaches, and executives under the most pressure heading into next season.
Hunter was one of two players on the list, with Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
"Travis Hunter is entering the 2026 season with higher expectations than arguably any other player in the modern NFL has faced," Kay wrote. "As a rare two-way talent, the 22-year-old will be tasked with shouldering a massive load on both sides of the ball for a Jacksonville Jaguars squad looking to take a leap following a playoff run in 2025."
Kay highlighted the significant capital that Jacksonville leveraged to acquire Hunter, while saying that his production, in a season shortened by injury, was not on par with expectations.
Jacksonville traded up to the No. 2 pick in the draft, mortgaging this year's first-round pick in the process. But the Jags secured one of the most unique talents to ever win the Heisman Trophy, a rare player capable of contributing on both sides of the ball.
However, that same two-way ability became a problem once Hunter’s rookie campaign was cut short by a knee injury.
Prior to being sidelined, Hunter recorded 298 receiving yards and one touchdown on 28 receptions along with 15 tackles and three passes defensed.
Having already suffering a significant knee injury, Hunter's slight build and frame make it difficult to project a long, healthy career while consistently playing both offense and defense at the professional level.
Hunter played 67 percent of the offensive snaps and 36 percent of the defensive snaps while healthy, but with young, emerging talents on the offensive side of the ball, like Brenton Strange and Parker Washington, the team has indicated Hunter will likely focus more on defense once he returns.
In January, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said Hunter will return to his two-way role when healthy, likely taking a larger defensive role.
"We still expect him to play on both sides of the ball," Gladstone said. "Corner is a position that we have a few guys who are on expiring contracts. By default, you can expect there to be a higher emphasis on (Hunter's) placement."
Gladstone has stuck with these remarks throughout the offseason.
Washington, Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers are a solid receiving trio and will likely all be ahead of Hunter on the depth chart.
In defense, the Jaguars' recent re-signing of Montaric Brown to a three-year, $32 million extension, he and Hunter project as the top two corners.
Brown led the Jags with 12 pass breakups and added two picks, while recording 51 tackles. He excels in zone coverage, using his length and closing speed to make tackles and break on passes.
Hunter's athletic ability and man-to-man capabilities, whether off-the-ball or pressed, provide the Jaguars with a versatile weapon to move around the defensive backfield.
Keeping Hunter on the defensive side of the ball will also somewhat limit his collisions, keeping him relatively out of harm's way.
At the NFL owners meeting, Jags head coach Liam Coen told the Florida Times-Union's Ryan O'Halloran there is no specific timetable Hunter's return, but he's "very well ahead of where he's supposed to be."
Wherever Hunter ends up playing, he will need to deliver more consistent production and stay healthy to quiet the skepticism and validate the Jaguars’ decision.
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