Even after a disappointing 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars emphatically stated that Brian Thomas Jr. wasn't going anywhere. Their trust has quickly paid dividends, as the third-year receiver has looked substantially better during the offseason program.
Granted, Thomas still has his work cut out for him. It will be until the regular season that he'll get to reach the level he showed as a rookie. In the meantime, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports argues that the 2024 first-round pick is running out of time to prove himself.
While there's no doubt that Thomas needs to deliver next season, you could make the case that another Jaguar is under more pressure.
Travis Hunter is among the Jaguars players under pressure to deliver
Brian Thomas Jr. already proved that he can be a game-changer, hauling in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns as a rookie. Sure, he left much to be desired last season, but all signs point to him getting back on track in 2026. On the other hand, the Jaguars didn't get much from Travis Hunter last year.
The Jaguars gave up several draft picks, including a first and a second, to trade up for Hunter, citing his sport-altering talent as the reason why. From the get-go, they made it clear that the former Heisman Trophy winner would continue to play two ways full-time and even had an onboarding plan to make it happen.
Hunter had a steeper learning curve than most NFL rookies becuase he was learning the nuances of two positions. Not surprisingly, the West Palm Beach native got off to a somewhat slow start to his rookie campaign. However, he showcased his playmaking prowess against the Los Angeles Rams, registering a key pass defensed and hauling in eight receptions for 101 yards with one touchdown.
Unfortunately, Hunter suffered a knee injury not long after that brought his first NFL campaign to a screeching halt. He underwent surgery not long after and has spent the offseason recovering. All signs point to him making progress, but he'll need to pick up where he left off last year.
The Jaguars are confident Travis Hunter will rise to the challenge
Since Travis Hunter hasn't practiced in full so far in the offseason program, he hasn't met with the local media often. The one time he did speak to reporters, he stated that he's been working out, and you can tell he gained a bit of mass. On the other hand, the Jaguars' brass has been pleased with his rehab and expects No. 12 back for training camp. He'll then have a chance to prove his doubters wrong.
Not long after Hunter got hurt, critics urged the Jaguars to give up on the two-way. They won't, and he'll play cornerback full-time next season and still have a role on offense after mostly lining up at receiver in 2025.
Some analysts have argued that cornerback offers Hunter the best path to turn into an All-Pro, so he'll be in a position to live up to his draft billing. If he doesn't, though, Jacksonville will continue to get the heat for giving up substantial assets to acquire him.
The Jaguars, for their part, are confident that Travis Hunter will come through. If he does, they'll have a game-changer on both sides of the ball. Until then, they'll continue to be under scrutiny.
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