Focusing on Defense Is the Right Decision for the Jaguars 22-Year-Old Two-Way Star
When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up with the Cleveland Browns to acquire the second overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, the team drafted what they believed to be the future of the NFL. One of the few players who successfully played on both sides of the ball in college, Colorado phenom Travis Hunter was expected to continue the trend of being a two-way athlete into the NFL. However, things have not gone to plan for both Hunter and Jacksonville. Injuries and a lack of production early in the season ruined the West Palm Beach native’s rookie season, cutting it short after just seven games. While it is too early to write off his potential for success in the big leagues, the Jaguars have made their plans for his future clear. Earlier in the week, general manager James Gladstone updated the media on Hunter’s current knee rehab and that his future efforts will be focused on the defensive side of the ball.
For fans in Duval County, this can be disappointing news to hear. In reality, this is the right move for Jacksonville to make. In 2025, Hunter had noticeably good secondary coverage and solid defensive performances, ending the season with 15 tackles and three pass deflections. The same cannot be said for his offensive performance, as he and Pro Bowl quarterback Trevor Lawrence never got on the same page. Hunter ended the season with 28 receptions for 298 yards and just one touchdown. After his injury, the Jaguars’ offense adapted and grew their receiving core, adding veteran Jakobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders, and gave tenured receiver Parker Washington a bigger workload to succeed. On the other side, the Jaguars’ secondary struggled in the second half of the season while their defensive line became the best run-stopping unit in the league. It only makes sense that in 2026, an important year for his sophomore season, the team would want Hunter to be part of the solution for a struggling secondary.
It is highly unlikely that we see the phenom, who was coached under the legendary Deion Sanders in college, reach that same level of two-way play in the NFL. However, now the coaching staff in Duval County can lead Hunter to succeed on one side of the ball and become more focused on his craft. Could Hunter be the next Jalen Ramsey in Jacksonville? That’s a high standard, but only time will tell. The potential is there, but the execution has yet to be seen.
