Latest Travis Hunter update may reveal the Jaguars’ offseason strategy

When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up for Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft, they did it because they legitimately thought that he could play two ways in the pros full-time. Although he got off to a slow start to his rookie season, the former Colorado Buffalo showed that he could indeed start at corner and receiver without seeing a dip in production on either side of the ball.

But a knee injury ended Hunter's first NFL season prematurely. He underwent surgery and has spent the last few months recovering. Once the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is back in the fold, though, the team's brass will have a different plan for him.

The Jaguars plan to use Travis Hunter at corner full-time

Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media said on TV that the Jags plan to deploy Travis Hunter at cornerback full-time, noting that both Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown are scheduled to become free agents.

"Let's start the Wolf of Ball Street in Jacksonville, where they're coming on season, and they think 2026 can be even better, because they get their unicorn back. Travis Hunter is expected to be 100 percent full goal by Week 1," Wolfe said. "He had a surgery on the LCL in his knee. He will play both sides again in 2026. The big change may come in the usage. From what I understand, they plan to play him as a full-time cornerback, a part-time receiver, which is a switch from last year, when he played more than double his snaps at receiver than cornerback."

Wolfe continued, "I hear fantasy football fans groaning. They think Travis Hunter can be elite at cornerback and still be an impact player on offense. They also have Monteric Brown and Greg Newsome, cornerbacks about to be free agents. They're expected to let at least one of those cornerbacks walk in free agency, so Travis Hunter can have that starting spot there, so still a huge impact player for the Jags, just different than what it looked like. It's rookie season."

This isn't necessarily breaking news but rather a confirmation of what general manager James Gladstone told the local media during the exit interview after the season ended.

Gladstone basically stated that Hunter would still play two ways, but Jacksonville could use him more on defense because the team will need him more on that side of the ball.

It also helps that the Jaguars have a trio of receivers in Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Brian Thomas Jr. With them in the mix, the team doesn't have to rely as much on Hunter.

Why Travis Hunter will help the Jaguars navigate the offseason

The Jaguars didn't hesitate to give extensions to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen last year. Both players were scheduled to become free agents in 2026, but the team's brass made an aggressive effort to keep them from leaving. Cornerbacks Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown are also slated to him the open market, but the front office hasn't had the same urgency to lock them up.

Perhaps the Jags can sign Brown or Newsome before the start of free agency on March 10. They still have a bit of time, but there's an equal chance that they already braced themselves for their departure. After all, Jacksonville is $13.9 million over the cap, and its spending budget will be limited.

Moreover, the Jaguars also need to add reinforcements at defensive tackle and the pass rush. This is where having Travis Hunter around comes in handy. With the West Palm Beach native in the mix, the front office can make upgrades to other positions and wait until 2027 to bolster the cornerback group.

Ideally, the Jags would take care of all the needs this offseason, but as noted before, they're cap-strapped, so it may not be possible.

Having said that, just because Travis Hunter will play corner full-time doesn't mean he'll still be lining up at receiver. His snap count on offense may be lower, but you can bet that the Jaguars will still make him an important part of their game plan.