The Jaguars traded as much as the No. 3 pick in last yr’s draft to pick Travis Hunter, a potentially generational prospect who played on each side of the ball in college.
Within the lead-up to the draft, Hunter repeatedly made it clear that he intended to play offense and defense within the NFL. He was viewed as a first-round wide receiver but an excellent higher cornerback, so a full-time role on defense while coming in for specific packages on offense felt like a really perfect split of his time. Not only does he have a better ceiling at cornerback, nevertheless it seems easier for a large receiver to play a part-time role.
Nevertheless, the Jaguars went in the wrong way in Hunter’s rookie yr. He played 324 snaps on offense and 162 on defense with higher results from the latter, aligning along with his pre-draft profile. In 12 games, he averaged just 6.6 yards per goal as a receiver but allowed only 5.9 yards per goal in coverage.
Hunter’s rookie season ended early attributable to knee surgery, and the early injury raised questions on the practicality and longevity of his two-way workload. Multiple reports have indicated that the Jaguars don’t share those concerns, but they’re planning to regulate his snap distribution when he returns to the sector later this yr.
“Travis Hunter is predicted to be 100% full-go by Week 1,” NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe said. “He had surgery on the LCL in his knee. He’ll play each side again in 2026. The massive change may are available in the usage. From what I understand, they plan to play him as a full-time cornerback [and] a part-time receiver.”
A late-season breakout from wideout Parker Washington and Jacksonville’s lack of cornerback depth are two primary reasons for this move, together with the fundamental logic concerning the two positions mentioned earlier.