The Jacksonville Jaguars made a splash by trading up in the 2025 NFL Draft to select two-way star Travis Hunter. With an opportunity to be the face of the franchise, can the Colorado product make an impact in the NFL as a two-way star? It’s not a matter of talent when it comes to the ability of Hunter, it’s going to be how well the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner adjusts to the NFL with the spotlight on him.
With general manager James Gladstone setting off fireworks at the top of the draft to get Hunter, there is a pressure for the player to be worth the trade package. Will it be a swing and gland slam for Gladstone and the Jaguars or a swing and miss? The answer to that question will come down to patience.
The Jags will have to figure out which side of the ball Hunter could make the greatest impact immediately. Catching the ball from Trevor Lawrence and teaming up with Brian Thomas Jr. is the intriguing choice, but if defense is where Hunter adjusts first, that’s where the focus should be while he picks up the offensive playbook. That doesn’t mean he won’t be a two-way player; it just means the Jaguars can’t just throw him out there based on talent alone.
Let him settle in and ease his way into a two-way role that is in the makings of being historic. Coach’s quotes: Liam Coen all about using Travis Hunter as a two-way playmaker During an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen gave a glimpse into how the team plans to develop Hunter as a two-way impact player. "We built a plan and then sat him down and really talked through it," Coen said, as transcribed by CBS Sports.
"How does he learn? What is the best ways that he learns? We did gain some of that information throughout the draft process, but when you actually sit down with him and get a feeling, 'Well, he likes to walk-through more than sit in a meeting-room setting, so let's do more walk-throughs.'
Every day he was on offense, he also met with the defensive staff in the afternoons, and vice versa.” It sounds like the Jaguars have a plan for Hunter to utilize his talents on both sides of the ball. How much of an impact he makes on either side of the ball will depend on how well he adjusts and how quickly he finds his niche on either side of the ball. One would think defense will be a quicker adjustment for Hunter given its more about scheme and playing as a unit.
Offensively, running routes and being where he needs to be is more of an individual focus. In that respect, it might be a harder adjustment because he will not just be depending on his speed to impact the game. Travis Hunter will score a touchdown on offense and defense (in the same game) Even if Hunter struggles offensively, he will score an offensive touchdown which will come early in the season.
The bold prediction here is not only will Hunter also score a touchdown on defense; he will catch a touchdown and deliver a pick-6 in the same game! This is a feat he accomplished in a Week 9 of the 2024 season in a Colorado Buffaloes win over the Cincinnati Bearcats. More NFL rookie bold predictions:
