The Jacksonville Jaguars were able to escape some criticism for their decision to go all-in on two-way star Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft by going 13-4 in Liam Coen's debut season, but the pressure will be on in a season where they are not expected to replicate that AFC South division title.
Hunter, who is reportedly going to play more of a role on defense while still getting snaps on offense, may end up being the X-factor that ultimately determines the success of this team in 2026. Even though the idea of him being Deion Sanders and Jimmy Smith at the same time seems to have gone by the wayside, that hasn't stopped some big analysts from thinking he is a star in the making.
Matt Miller of ESPN said that he is expecting big things from Hunter in Year 2, declaring he has the talent to be a "five interceptions, 50-reception player" for Jacksonville next year. How many players across the NFL, or in post-merger NFL history, can that lofty praise be reasonably applied to?
ESPN is expecting big things from Jaguars two-way standout Travis Hunter in 2026
Hunter caught just 28 passes last season, and his lone touchdown came in garbage time of a tough loss against the Los Angeles Rams. His defensive production was up-and-down. He didn't record any interceptions, but he was fairly sticky for a smaller DB in his debut season in the NFL.
Montaric Brown seems to have the edge as the starting corner opposite Hunter, showing that this secondary may not be in a great place after James Gladstone chose to focus on the trenches in the offseason. Meanwhile, Jacksonville's offensive depth can make it so Hunter doesn't have to do an even 50-50 split on that side.
The trade addition of Jakobi Meyers and the breakout of Parker Washington have given the Jags a tremendous trio of wide receivers at the tip of their spear. If Brian Thomas Jr. gets back to his rookie form, Jacksonville may have one of the best wide receiver rooms in the AFC without Hunter. Now imagine them with him!
Travis Hunter has immense talent, and he's shown he can make plays on both sides of the ball. Like any great recipe, the Jaguars just need to figure out how many pinches of Hunter spice are needed on both sides of the ball to supercharge both their pass-catching and secondary units.
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