The Jacksonville Jaguars are seemingly already giving up on their bold plan of making Travis Hunter a two-way player who plays both wide receiver and cornerback, as reporting from Ian Rapoport and others suggests that Hunter will only suit up at cornerback outside of a few gadget plays.
It seems like that is news to Hunter himself, as he still thinks that he is going to play an impactful role on both sides in some capacity. The 2025 No. 2 overall pick was even willing to challenge those who believe that he is only going to limit himself to one side, which he hasn't done in his collegiate or professional career.
Hunter replied to a clip of Rapoport discussing his hypothetical move to one side of the ball while also seemingly knocking his statement down by saying, "Who told you this?" Perhaps there's a chance Rapoport may be exaggerating, and Hunter may end up swapping sides more often than some anticipate.
Jaguars' Travis Hunter claps back at Ian Rapoport amid discussion of two-way role
Pro Football Focus shows that Hunter graded out better in his defensive snaps than on offense. Hunter had 298 yards receiving and one touchdown last season before his injury, but the Jaguars were often struggling to find ways to naturally integrate him on either side of the ball.
If Brian Thomas Jr. manages to bounce back and Parker Washington continues his ascension to semi-stardom, the combination of those two, alongside the recently extended Jakobi Meyers, could make it tough for the Jaguars to knock their targets down in the name of manufacturing touches for Hunter.
The secondary is one of the weaker units of the team, and Hunter devoting most of his energy to the position could be the best way for a Jacksonville team that surrendered a first-round pick last year to acquire him to ensure they don't get ripped apart by the AFC's top quarterbacks.
The Jaguars may be well-served to use Hunter in the same way the Cowboys used Deion Sanders in the 1995 season. While being a cornerback was his bread and butter, Dallas used him enough on the offensive end to force the opposing team to come up with a specific game plan aimed at stopping him.
Jacksonville knows Travis Hunter is a premium athlete with All-Pro potential on both sides of the ball, and while he doesn't seem to think the two-way experiment is coming to an end, it seems likely that the Jaguars will make the proactive move and help him reach his full potential on one side of the ball.
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