For all the flak the Jacksonville Jaguars have gotten for trading up to select Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft, it's easy to forget that he was the highest-rated prospect of his class at both receiver and cornerback. That a knee injury cut his rookie season short also makes it easier for critics to question the Jags' decision to have No. 12 play two ways full-time in the pros.
Having said that, Hunter's recovery is coming along well. Moreover, he'll now play cornerback full-time, which will give him a prime opportunity to further hone his skills. This leads an NFL analyst believes that the conditions are there for the former Heisman Trophy winner to have a breakout season in Year 2.
The Jaguars could see Travis Hunter break out in his sophomore campaign
Greg Auman of Fox Sports drew up a list of 10 sophomores poised to break out in 2026 and included Travis Hunter, pointing out that the Jags paved the way for him to have a featured role at corner when they let Greg Newsome walk in free agency.
"Hunter should be an every-down corner, and that side of the ball should be his focus and the best chance of rhim to shine," Auman wrote. "Jacksonville let Greg Newsome leave in free agency and didn't draft a corner, setting Hunter up for a central role."
During the draft process, Hunter made it abundantly clear that he would rather quit football than go to a team that limited him to one side of the ball. The Jags were in a position in position to grant his request, which is why they didn't hesitate to make a bold trade to move up three spots and select him second overall.
Jacksonville had an onboarding to help Hunter make the transition to the pros while learning the nuances of two positions. However, the team had to adjust on the fly because he was the first player in the modern era who was projected to play two ways full-time.
In the end, Hunter ended up logging 67 percent of the team's total snaps on offense and 36 percent on defense. That's far from full-time, but he certainly showed that he could withstand the rigors of playing two ways.
On the other hand, the West Palm Beach, Florida native had a steep learning curve, which contributed to his slow start to his rookie campaign. It wasn't until Week 7 that he broke out against the Los Angeles Rams, reeling in eight receptions for 101 yards with one touchdown.
However, Hunter suffered an LCL injury during practice the following week and underwent season-ending surgery not long after. The good news is that nothing is impeding him from picking up where he left off last year, and if he does, he should have no trouble recreating the game-changing skills that made him a sight to behold at Colorado.
The Jaguars know how the better manage Travis Hunter's workload in Year 2
The Jaguars put together a clear path for Travis Hunter to make the leap to the NFL. However, they had to make several tweaks because they were dealing with uncharted territory. That's no longer the case, as the Jags now know what works and what doesn't, and should be able to get the most out of the sophomore.
And that's the thing, Hunter didn't just suddenly stop being talented. You could even make the case that he would have finished his rookie season strong if he had stayed healthy. That said, there's no way to change that.
What the Jaguars can control is their management of Travis Hunter, and the fact that he'll focus on playing cornerback full-time (and wide receiver on a part-time basis) should help him untap his potential.
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