Travis Hunter is starting to look like the player the Jacksonville Jaguars bet on when they made the stunning move to grab him with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville paid a steep price to get there, sending a first-round, second-round and fourth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns. That was the cost of landing an unusual talent, one capable of working on both sides of the ball.
His rookie year did not come easy. Hunter had to absorb two playbooks at once, and a torn LCL cut his debut season short after just seven games. The Jaguars adjusted after that, trimming his workload and using him mostly at cornerback while mixing in some snaps at wide receiver.
That shift has brought out the best in him. Hunter has developed into one of the league’s better cover men and has also started producing game-changing plays. He picked off New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the end zone in Week 3, then came through with another end zone interception this Sunday against the Houston Texans.
That latest takeaway stood out for another reason: it was quarterback C.J. Stroud’s first interception of a season in which he has been one of the best passers in the league.
Hunter didn’t stop there. For the first time this year, he also showed what he can do as a receiver, catching four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown during Jacksonville’s comeback effort. The Jaguars fell short, but Hunter was all over the game in both directions.
There was plenty of skepticism when Jacksonville gave up that much draft capital for a player built like a prototype. So far, though, the gamble has worked. Hunter is still early in his journey, and the Jaguars appear to be just scratching the surface of what he can become on both sides of the ball.
In Other News...
Jaguars Still Lead The South But This Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem
The Jaguars still sit atop the AFC South, but the narrow Week 6 loss to Houston felt bigger than a one-game setback. Jacksonville got a spark from Travis Hunter, who made his presence felt on both sides of the ball with a touchdown catch and an interception, yet it still wasnt enough to offset a Texans team that kept finding answers all afternoon.
Houston piled up more than 400 yards and ultimately won it with a last-second field goal, exposing how much pressure the Jaguars are under to clean up their defensive play. In a division race where every slip can matter later, Jacksonville can point to the standings for comfort, but the performance against the Texans offered a reminder that leading the South does not mean the roster is playing like a finished product. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Win Put Jaguars Wideout Problem Under A Bigger Spotlight
Brian Thomas Jr.s afternoon in Houston ended long before the final whistle, and that only sharpened the conversation around Jacksonvilles passing game. The second-year wideout did not play a snap after halftime in the Week 6 loss to the Texans, finishing with two targets and no catches as his recent usage continued to trend downward. With other receivers taking on bigger roles, Thomas has become part of a broader discussion about how the Jaguars are distributing the ball and what that means for one of their most talented pass catchers.
Around the league, there is already speculation that Thomas could become a name to watch if Jacksonville ever decides to listen on a potential move. The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly looking at receiver help because of injuries, which has added another layer to the chatter, but the Jaguars are still dealing with a more immediate issue at home: how to get a once-central piece of their offense back into the mix without disrupting the rest of the group. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Harrison Jr. Gives Texans Fans A Reason To Watch Sunday Closely
The Jaguars trip to London will come with an extra layer of intrigue, thanks to Marvin Harrison Jr. making his debut for the Houston Texans in the matchup Sunday morning. Houston acquired Harrison in a recent trade with the Arizona Cardinals, and the timing sets up an immediate spotlight game against a Jacksonville team that is always looking to control the AFC South picture on the other side of the pond.
Harrison also reunites with quarterback C.J. Stroud, his former Ohio State teammate, which gives the Texans another storyline to monitor beyond the usual international-game backdrop. Kickoff is set for Sunday, Oct. 18, at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network, and while Jacksonville has its own business to handle, there will be plenty of eyes on how quickly Houston can fold its newest playmaker into the offense. [Read more 🡒]