While folks within the building are mulling over how to utilize sophomore Travis Hunter in 2026, others around the league are pitching their own ideas for the Colorado alum's short-term future. The Jacksonville Jaguars bet the farm on Hunter's ability to develop into a two-way star at the NFL level, but nobody said his breakout season on either side of the ball had to happen at the same time.
That's why Matt Okada, a writer on the NFL's official website, threw out a hot take and claimed that Hunter could become a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate once he dedicates the majority of his time to playing cornerback.
To back up his bold prediction, Okada wrote that "Hunter flashed talent as a rookie defender, allowing an impressively low open rate (27.8 percent) and completion rate over expected (-3.0 percent), per NFL Pro. With an offseason to focus on the position, Hunter could break out as a shutdown corner and dangerous ballhawk in 2026."
Obviously, Jacksonville's most dedicated fans would take this outcome in a heartbeat. After No. 12's season-ending injury last season, it would be better to have him emerge as an All-Pro defensive specialist instead of seeing him flame out as a "what could've been?" on both sides of the ball.
For what it's worth, the Jaguars' top brass seems committed to helping Hunter realize his ultimate dream, but what could be the franchise's ceiling if everyone stops to think this over?
If Travis Hunter goes all-in on defense, the Jaguars could be Super Bowl contenders
To me, there were a few things that sealed the deal against the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round, and the defense's failure to get quarterback Josh Allen off the field was one of them. The Jags thrived on their aggressive, turnover-forcing style of play during the regular season, but a lack of firepower in the secondary hindered their ability to compete against the NFL's best.
With Travis Hunter out of the picture, there was no one else to turn to when it was clear Allen had Greg Newson's number. In a different timeline, Hunter's performance at home in a nationally televised game could have been his breakout moment as a defender.
Buffalo barely beat Jacksonville in a 27-24 thriller, so it's more than fair to say that a play here, or a pass batted down there, could have changed the entire course of the Jaguars' postseason.
So, in a world where Hunter comes back with a new fire lit under him, what would the Jaguars' defense look like with an elite man corner roaming the boundary? How spicy could Anthony Campanile's blitz packages get if he knows the other team's WR1 won't get loose?
Or, and this one should excite even the most skeptical among us, what kind of game plans could the coaches draw up if the West Palm Beach, Florida native proves he can match up with tight ends for 60 minutes as well?
While it seems like Hunter, Liam Coen, and James Gladstone aren't fully aligned just yet, I hope that their talks end with Travis deciding to explore how good he can be on defense. With a loaded wide receiver room, and the big contracts due to come its way, it'd be wise for Jacksonville's leadership to hope for the same thing as well.
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