The Jacksonville Jaguars had been aggressive shifting as much as the No. 2 total decide on this previous April’s NFL Draft to pick out Heisman Trophy-winning two-way star Travis Hunter. The Jaguars traded their 2026 first-round decide to the Browns as a part of the package deal, and their reasoning was they felt like they had been getting an elite participant on either side of the ball with only one decide.
Hunter has gotten reps at each broad receiver and cornerback throughout coaching camp, and on Monday we received our first indication of what his function will likely be on either side of the ball because the Jaguars released their first unofficial depth chart. On it, Hunter is listed as a starter at broad receiver — together with Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown — and as a backup cornerback with an OR designation for second or third string alongside Jarrian Jones.
We’ll see how that modifications over the subsequent month earlier than the Jaguars open the common season in opposition to the Panthers on Sept. 7, however for now followers can anticipate to see plenty of Hunter on offense and him enjoying a extra sparing function on protection to start his NFL profession. That is not a shock given the Jaguars’ group wants, as Trevor Lawrence may use one other dynamic offensive playmaker to throw to reverse Thomas Jr.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen mentioned Hunter on the Rich Eisen Show on Monday, saying Hunter enjoying each methods is “completely taking place” whereas explaining why he is spent extra time with the offense in camp than the protection up to now.
“In the end, for him, it should come all the way down to, offensively and defensively, we have performed extra offense as a result of that is the place extra of the event was mandatory,” Coen stated. “A lot extra naturally to simply go stroll out on the sphere and play nook. Like, that is what he is performed, he can go do this very equally. … Offensively we felt there was much more growth mandatory, and it is much more ball. Simply much more scheme and phrases and calls. …
“He has taken large strides, particularly on the receiver place of really enjoying it. The best way to run every route. The best way to assault leverage. His ball expertise and physique management are extraordinarily pure. You possibly can’t actually coach that. What he is been capable of study in getting aligned, assignments, approach and fundamentals.”
Whereas he is listed as a starter at receiver and a reserve at nook, he nonetheless ought to play loads of snaps on protection. Coen was cautious of placing onerous numbers on a snap depend for Hunter on offense and protection, however indicated he will likely be closely featured on offense they usually’ll attempt to come near matching that on protection.
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“I feel it is a onerous quantity to most likely give you,” Coen stated. “For those who’re saying your enjoying 65-75 snaps on offense let’s name it, and if he is enjoying 80% of these snaps or so. After which defensively, you take a look at attempting to match that quantity as greatest as doable. … We wanna play him as a lot as we are able to, although. That is the truth.”
If Hunter performs near 80% of the snaps each methods, he’ll be taking a look at 100-plus snaps per sport. That’d be extraordinary on the NFL stage, however that was additionally the case in college football and he was elite on either side of the ball at Colorado enjoying a fair larger snap depend. Primarily based on this preliminary depth chart, he would possibly see fewer defensive snaps early, however he’s unquestionably a part of their plan on that aspect of the ball. The Jaguars aren’t shying away from his distinctive abilities and that’ll make for a really enjoyable subplot to the 2025 season.
Hunter is within the high 4 in odds for each Offensive Rookie of the Yr (10-1) and Defensive Rookie of the Yr (8-1) at DraftKings.
And when requested about whether or not Hunter actually may win each awards, Coen stated matter of factly that “it is positively doable.”