The Jacksonville Jaguars shook the NFL when they traded up in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Travis Hunter. At the time, general manager James Gladstone explained that they couldn't pass up the chance to take a player who could change the landscape of not just football but sports as a whole. In the end, though, the former Heisman Trophy winner failed to live up to expectations.
Hunter had trouble adjusting to the NFL, which contributed to his slow start to his rookie campaign. And once he began to hit his stride, he suffered a season-ending injury. But despite the roadblocks, Jacksonville's confidence in the former Colorado Buffalo hasn't wavered. Quite the opposite.
While he recovers from the knee injury, Hunter has been putting in the work in the film room and the gym. He's ahead of schedule and should have no trouble picking up where he left off. Not surprisingly, his return is generating plenty of buzz, with an NFL writer going as far as calling him the Jags' most promising building block.
Travis Hunter is dubbed the Jaguars' most promising building block
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report drew up a list of every NFL team's most promising building block. He picked Travis Hunter for the Jaguars, arguing that his capability to play two ways makes him an intriguing talent to keep an eye on.
"Let's be honest. Travis Hunter's rookie campaign was a disappointment," Knox wrote. "While his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball last season was impressive, the Colorado product did not play up to the expectations of being the second overall pick in the draft."
Knox continued, "Hunter recorded just 298 receiving yards and a touchdown to go with 15 tackles and three passes defended. Then, a torn LCL ended his rookie season after seven games. Of course, it's Hunter's ability to play both ways that makes him such a promising building block for the Jags."
Just before he suffered the knee injury that cut his 2025 season short, Hunter showcased his big-play capability, catching eight passes for 101 yards with one touchdown and registering one crucial pass defensed against the Los Angeles Rams.
That was just a sample of what Hunter can do. Had he stayed healthy, there's a strong chance that he would've put up better numbers. But he didn't, and questions about his two-way have emerged since then.
The Jags, for their part, aren't just ready to give up on him. They expect him to line up at cornerback full-time next season, but that's because of how the roster was built. Still, No. 12 will continue to get playing time at receiver, even if it's on a part-time basis.
Travis Hunter is in a position to become a game-changer for the Jaguars
As a rookie, the West Palm Beach, Florida native spent more time learning the nuances of playing receiver, but that was due to how difficult the position is. Now that he'll get to line up at corner, he should be able to showcase the talent that made him a collegiate star.
And that's the thing, Hunter didn't make any game-changing plays at corner last year, but he most definitely held his own. It's fair to assume that he could make an even bigger impact now that he has a better grasp of the position.
There's no doubt that Travis Hunter's first NFL season didn't go the way he or the Jaguars envisioned. But he'll be in a position to remind everyone why he was seen as a sports-altering talent coming out of college.
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