NFL team Jaguars face a dilemma with Travis Hunter: His skills don't allow him to excel in every aspect of the game, and a decision needs to be made on where to best utilize him. Travis Kelce's assessment seems to be accurate.
Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter Struggling to Make Impact in NFL Debut
Travis Hunter, the 22-year-old wide receiver and cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has had a challenging start to his professional career. Drafted No. 2 overall by the Jaguars from Colorado, Hunter was considered a standout player in college, leading to the team leaping up in the 2025 NFL Draft and giving away a 2026 first-round pick. However, in his initial two pro games, Hunter has been almost invisible, with nine catches (14 targets) for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Hunter's current statistics, while not impressive, are not a cause for alarm for the Jaguars. The team is in control of his immediate playing future, with General Manager James Gladstone and Head Coach Liam Coen jointly managing his role as both a cornerback and wide receiver. The Jaguars do not care about inflated snap counts, and they decide when and how Hunter plays. They are not bound by any stipulation that he controls his offensive and defensive snap counts.
Despite his modest start, Hunter is currently outpaced by several other rookies in the NFL. Tyler Warren (Colts), Abdul Carter (Giants), Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers), and Cam Ward (Titans) have all made more impactful starts to their careers. However, the Jaguars believe that Hunter has the potential to help on both sides of the ball, and they are still figuring out how to best deploy him in the NFL.
Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, stated in July that teams might try to make Hunter's life difficult by running deep balls at him on defense and taking off on him as a wide receiver to tire him out. The Jaguars will need to figure out their 'unicorn' problem with Hunter before another season is lost.
In Week 3, the Jaguars will face off against the Houston Texans in a crucial AFC South matchup. It remains to be seen how Hunter will perform in this game, but the Jaguars will be hoping for a breakout performance from their promising young player.
Hunter was born in West Palm Beach, Florida and played college football at Colorado. He won the 2024 Heisman Trophy before being selected by the Jaguars. Despite his struggles so far, the Jaguars are confident that he will eventually find his feet in the NFL.
The Jaguars need all the help they can get, and they are hoping that Hunter can become a key player for them in the future. For now, they will continue to support him and work with him to help him reach his potential.
