The Jacksonville Jaguars' early-season schedule isn't for the faint of heart. However, there is one game that shouldn't be that big of a deal if you're a hardcore Jags fan.
Jacksonville opens its 2026 campaign against the new-and-improved Cleveland Browns, a franchise that has a new head coach, a retooled philosophy, and a lot of young talent on both sides of the ball. One thing they don't have, however, is the highly coveted services of one Travis Hunter.
The Browns passed on Travis Hunter (but could have used him)
After a season-ending injury put him on the shelf, some analysts believe that Travis Hunter will break out as a full-time defender and make a run for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Any Browns fan reading this article (thanks, btw) would be correct in saying we have a Defensive Player of the Year at home, but pairing Myles Garrett's otherworldly pass-rushing ability with the Suwanee, Georgia native's elite ball skills could have helped Cleveland win a few more games last year.
Also, no one can deny that pairing Hunter, the wide receiver, with Shedeur Sanders would have made The Brownies must-see TV.
So, while the Browns might not be kicking themselves for passing over Hunter just yet, they could be questioning their front office's preference to load up on draft picks if the rising star uses the Cleveland receiving corps to establish himself as a big-time DB in Year 2.
What can we expect from Travis Hunter in his highly anticipated return?
Assuming Hunter lines up at cornerback for the majority of the game, the former No. 2-overall pick will have a chance to shut down both of the Browns' new wide receivers. During the 2026 NFL Draft, Cleveland opted to acquire Texas A&M's KC Concepcion at the end of the first round and Washington's Denzel Boston with their first of two second-round choices.
Considering the spots both players were selected, it'd take a catastrophe during training camp for either one to see the bench more than the field during their pro debuts against the Jags. Last season, Cleveland's wide receivers only produced 1,467 yards as a group. For comparison's sake, the Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride racked up 1,239 yards on his own in 2025, and he's a tight end.
As Concepcion and Boston get their bearings, Hunter will be able to make his reads and get the jump on any patterns he recognizes after all the film study he's been able to do. Those in the Sanders household may also be interested in seeing how Travis matches up against his former quarterback in their first NFL contest against one another.
With Anthony Campanile calling the shots for the Jaguars' defense, I think the two-way dynamo will have all the ingredients he needs to whip up a breakout performance in the backfield.
In a different timeline, Kevin Stefanski and Jim Schwartz would still have their offices in Northern Ohio if they got a shot to experiment with Hunter on either side of the ball instead of relying on Mason Graham to wreck games himself as a run-focused defensive tackle. Andrew Berry didn't do his prior coaching staff any favors by drafting two quarterbacks in the middle rounds while Joe Flacco and Deshaun Watson were already on the roster.
Alas, spilled milk can never be put back into the bottle (carton?), so Berry better hope that James Gladstone's gamble of a lifetime doesn't pay off in a big way when both GMs face off for the first time since they last did business together.
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