The Jacksonville Jaguars appear to be a long shot to land Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft, barring a trade to move up a few spots from No. 5. That said, they could be one of the few teams that could accommodate his playing request.
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports reported that Hunter is warning NFL teams that he won't play at all if he's told he'll only play on one side of the ball.
"It's never playing football again," Hunter told Podell. "Because I've been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.
Less than two weeks away from the draft, the likelihood of Hunter falling to the Jaguars is low. Quarterback Cam Ward is virtually a lock to go to the Tennessee Titans first overall. That leaves the Cleveland Browns, the New York Giants, and the New England Patriots as potential destinations for the two-way star.
Hunter could go as early as No. 2. The Browns will tentatively take him or pass rusher Abdul Carter. The Giants have also set their sights on Hunter and will probably take him if he's available. If the 2024 Heisman Trophy is on the board at No. 5, he could give the Patriots a tough decision. They could take him or offensive tackle Will Campbell.
The silver lining is that if New England drafts Hunter, the Jags would have a clear shot at Campbell. Of course, he'd be far from their only option. Other prospects that have been linked to Jacksonville are defensive tackle Mason Graham, pass rusher Jalon Walker, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and running back Asthon Jeanty.
Why the Jaguars would be the perfect fit for Travis Hunter in the NFL Draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars would have no trouble giving Travis Hunter playing time on both sides of the ball from Day 1. This would be possible because they don't have a clear need ahead of the draft but could use help at both receiver and cornerback.
On offense, the West Palm Beach native could get on the field alongside Dyami Brown, and Brian Thomas Jr. He can line up anywhere across the football field, so he could present nigthmare matchups to opposing teams.
On the other hand, Hunter could play a few snaps on defense while he gets fully acclimated to the NFL. Tyson Campell, Jarrian Jones, and Jourdan Lewis will tentatively start at cornerback. He could sub in for any of them at any time. Similarly, the coaching staff could deploy him in dime packages. An added benefit is that all of them would stay fresh throughout the game.
Of course, for all this to happen, Hunter would have to make it to No. 5, and based on how things are unfolding, he won't. But if it somehow happens, expect the Jaguars not only to fulfill his request but also deploy him in imaginative ways.