Two-way star Travis Hunter is expected to have a huge impact for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Heck, general manager James Gladstone went as far as calling him a sport-altering athlete when they moved up in the NFL Draft to select him. But as talented as he may be, he's not the only receiver that teams on the Jags' 2025 slate will have to take care of. An NFL voice recently made sure to reminded them of Brian Thomas Jr.
Around the same time that the NFL released the schedule for the 2025 Pro Football Focus posted on Twitter the list of receivers and cornerbacks he'll have to deal with as a rookie.
On defense, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner will have to contain Nico Collins (Houston Texans), Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco 49ers), Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks), Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals), Garrett Wilson (New York Jets), and Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos).
As a receiver, Hunter will have to go against Jayce Horn (Carolina Panthers), Derek Stingley Jr. (Houston Texans), Trent McDuffie (Kansas City Chiefs), Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks), L'Jarius Sneed (Tennessee Titans), Charvarius Ward (San Francisco 49ers), Sauce Gardner (New York Jets), and Pat Surtain (Denver Broncos).
All things considered, that's an illustrious list, one that includes arguably three of the top cornerbacks in the NFL right now. Having said that, PFF is forgetting a very important detail: Hunter may not be WR1 on the Jaguars next season. That would be Thomas, who's already proven that he can go toe-to-toe with the best of the best. NFL insider James Palmer was quick to remind everyone of that. Here's what he had to say on Twitter.
"I would think a lot, if not most, of those CBs will be lining up across from Brian Thomas Jr.," Palmer said. "No slight to Tavis Hunter, but Thomas is a dude already.
And here's the list that PFF originally posted showing all the receivers and corners Hunter is supposed to face next season.
PFF is making it sound like Hunter will be the No. 1 target on the Jaguars' passing game, and he may very well be in the future. But right now, that distinction goes to Thomas, who'll draw every team's best corner in 2025.
Heck, free-agent acquisition Dyami Brown could line up opposite Thomas to start the season. That would allow Hunter to get acclimated to the NFL and only earn a featured role once he's ready. Then again, the prospect of having to defend the rookie wideout will still force opposing teams to game plan for him. This is a way to say that the mere fact of having him on the roster will affect other teams' strategy.
Having said that, Dyami Brown only signed a one-year deal, so Thomas and Hunter should be the top receivers on the Jaguars roster long-term.
Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter give the Jaguars a dynamic WR duo
Thomas played like a bona fide No. 1 as a rookie, hauling in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns. The fact that he did with teams double-teaming him as much as possible, and mostly while catching passes from Mac Jones, makes it even more impressive. The former LSU Tiger should continue to get better next season. In fact, the addition of Travis Hunter should help him improve his statline.
Sure, Hunter and Dyami Brown will take some targets away from Thomas, but they'll also help him find more favorable matchups. That will, in turn, lead to much better production. On the other hand, Hunter will also benefit from his sophomore counterpart. In fact, Dalton Wasserman of PFF thinks that the former Colorado standout is set up for success due to the presence of Thomas. Here's the skinny.
"The Jaguars will use Travis Hunter as a wide receiver first, and he has the tools to form one of the NFL’s best duos alongside Brian Thomas Jr.
Hunter is an explosive deep threat who earned a perfect 99.9 deep receiving grade in 2024. Trevor Lawrence, who ranks fifth in big-time throws over the past three seasons, gives him a proven deep-ball passer. If the Jaguars protect Lawrence, Hunter could deliver one of the most impactful rookie seasons in the league."
Of course, the biggest beneficiary of the bunch is Trevor Lawrence. Behind a beefed-up offensive line and a much-improved arsenal of weapons, No. 16 is in a position to succeed.
Ultimately, the Jacksonville Jaguars knew the kind of impact Travis Hunter could have on offense and defense. That's why they didn't hesitate to trade up for him. Now, teams will need to game plan for him without overlooking Brian Thomas Jr.
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