After a frustrating rookie season marred by injury, the Jaguars must pivot. Prioritizing Hunter’s defensive prowess over offensive snaps could unlock his potential as a premier NFL powerhouse.
The Jacksonville Jaguars bet big on Travis Hunter when they traded up to draft him second overall in 2025. Fresh off a Heisman Trophy-winning season at Colorado, Hunter was one of the most exciting and unique prospects to enter the NFL in quite some time.
A true two-way player, Hunter made it known before the draft that he wanted to continue playing both wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL. Some teams and analysts scoffed at the notion. The Jaguars did not. Jacksonville wanted Hunter to be a fixture of both its offense and defense. The stage was set for Hunter to take the league by storm.
Disappointing Rookie Year
Hunter found out that playing in the NFL is a different animal from college. The Colorado standout, known for making explosive plays, was not the impact WR many thought he would be. Hunter only amassed 28 catches for 298 yards and a single touchdown before his rookie year was ended by an October knee injury. To make matters worse, Hunter was able to provide the "splash" plays we were accustomed to seeing. Many of his catches were of the "dink and dunk" variety, severely limiting his impact on the field.
What was perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Hunter's rookie year was his lack of usage at cornerback. In his seven games, Hunter only saw 162 defensive snaps, exactly half the number he played on offense (324). For a player so gifted at CB, the lack of playing time on defense was baffling. Hunter can be a top CB in the NFL, with some saying he has the potential to be the Defensive Player of the Year.
Will Hunter Become A True Shutdown CB?
Hunter's sophomore year in Jacksonville must see the team prioritize his ability on defense. True shutdown cornerbacks are a rare commodity in the NFL, and the Jaguars cannot afford to have one standing on the sideline.
Jacksonville has a solid receiving core even without including Hunter, especially if Brian Thomas Jr can get back to being the player he was as a rookie. Thomas Jr, along with Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington, gives QB Trevor Lawrence an excellent complement of weapons. I'm not suggesting that the Jags should eliminate Hunter's role on offense. They shouldn't. However, if they want to maximize Hunter's overall impact, the Jaguars should make leading their secondary Hunter's top priority. If Hunter is on the field for 75% of the team's defensive snaps, he can become one of the best defensive players in the entire league.
Outlook For 2026
The team has publicly stated that it intends to keep using Hunter as a two-way player in 2026. That is the right call, as long as CB becomes Hunter's number one position.
It would appear that the Jags intend to make Hunter their CB1 in 2026. With 10 total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, Jacksonville did not use a single one on a corner. That bodes extremely well for Hunter's outlook for 2026. Hunter should be given the opportunity he needs to become a true shutdown cornerback. Expect him to be in the conversation for DPOY at season's end.
Of course, it will still be awesome watching him play wide receiver as well.
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