JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Aug. 15, 2025. The Jaguars didn’t just draft for need this spring—they traded up and staked their future on football’s most audacious idea: that Travis Hunter can be a real two-way player on Sundays. Jacksonville moved to No. 2 overall to grab the Colorado star, who arrived with a Heisman Trophy and a trophy case full of 2024 accolades. NFL.com
Early look: how the Jags are using him
Through camp and the first preseason showing, Jacksonville has treated Hunter like a true hybrid. He’s listed as a starting wideout and a depth corner, and the staff is deliberately splitting his workload to test what’s sustainable over a full season. The Week 1 preseason plan hovered around a balanced snap count across offense and defense—an approach analysts say could make him a league-changing outlier if it holds. FOX Sports
Preseason debut: flashes, a learning curve, and a coaching note
Hunter’s NFL debut came in a 31–25 preseason loss to the Steelers. He started at receiver, finished with two catches for nine yards (one wiped out by penalty), and took a handful of defensive reps. Afterward, head coach Liam Coen praised Hunter’s alignment and decisions on offense and said the rookie needs crisper route technique and better angles on defense—typical “first game” feedback for a player juggling two playbooks. Big Cat Country
Why this is different
Two-way football hasn’t been a regular NFL thing for decades, but Hunter is trying to buck history. He played more than 1,500 snaps last fall at Colorado—over 117 per game—finishing with 96 receptions, 1,258 yards and 16 total touchdowns on offense, plus four interceptions on defense. The Jaguars traded up with the express intention of letting him continue as a two-phase playmaker, banking on uncommon stamina and ball skills to make it work. ESPN.com
The business around the bet
Off the field, Hunter was already a marketing magnet before draft night, piling up brand deals during college and positioning himself as one of the NFL’s most marketable rookies. His reps have leaned into the “both sides of the ball” storyline with blue-chip partners and say the plan is to build a national (and potentially global) profile that mirrors his on-field versatility. Sports Business Journal
What’s next
Jacksonville’s short-term goal is simple: keep Hunter healthy while building real roles on both units. The longer-term question—how many snaps he can shoulder weekly without diminishing returns—will define how revolutionary this experiment becomes. For now, the Jaguars are doubling down on the idea that their No. 2 pick can tilt games in multiple ways—and maybe tilt the sport, too. FOX Sports