The Jaguars didn’t trade up in the 2025 NFL Draft just to get a good player. They moved for Travis Hunter because they wanted the whole package - a real two-way weapon, the kind of guy who can tilt a game on offense and defense.
That vision didn’t get a clean debut. Hunter’s rookie season in Jacksonville was cut short by injury, and he never really put together the kind of all-around impact the Jaguars were chasing when they made that aggressive move.
Now, the next step may matter even more. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell argues that Hunter’s 2026 season could determine whether the two-way experiment keeps going, or whether Jacksonville eventually asks him to settle into one role.
“If Hunter can stay healthy and make an impact on both sides of the ball on a regular basis, his goal of being a two-way player should still be on track," Barnwell writes. "If he gets hurt, or ig the Jaguars aren't able to carve out a meaningful role on one side or the other for their most interesting player, he might be something closer to a full-time wide receiver or (more likely) cornerback in 2027."
That’s the fork in the road for Hunter. If he can handle both jobs and stay on the field, the Jaguars can keep chasing the upside they paid for. If not, the two-way dream could shrink fast.
The organization is expected to give him another shot in 2026 under Liam Coen. Jacksonville paid a steep price to get Hunter, and part of the appeal was obvious: he looks like two players in one.
If the 2026 season goes sideways - whether because of injury or because he’s only truly effective on one side - the Jaguars could shut down the experiment for 2027.
There is still a clear path for Hunter to make this work, even if he never becomes a full-blown star at both spots. The most realistic version, as Barnwell sees it, is Hunter becoming a strong cornerback while taking about half the snaps on offense. That kind of role would still make him a valuable piece, especially if he can also function as a team’s third-best receiver.
But that’s no easy ask. Hunter would need to be much better on defense and still produce on offense while sharing targets with Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers.
That’s why 2026 looms so large. A strong two-way season keeps the idea alive. A setback, or a year where he only really matters in one phase, and Jacksonville may decide the answer is to make Travis Hunter choose a position.
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Florida State Faces A Bigger Test Than Fans Wanted This Early
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Liam Coen did not offer much reason to think the opener is a lock, either, saying Allen being available for Week 1 would be a pleasant surprise. For Jacksonville, that leaves the conversation focused less on what Allen can do right away and more on how long the wait might last, with the team weighing whether it needs to plan for the start of the season without him. [Read more 🡒]