While the Jacksonville Jaguars have tried everything to remain in the NFL zeitgeist as a small-market team, their constant losing and lack of star power have made it difficult. All of that changed when they moved up in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.
Not only will Hunter team with Brian Thomas Jr. to provide another excellent target for Trevor Lawrence, but he should end up teaming with Tyson Campbell to boost what has become a lackluster secondary.
Trevor Lawrence is quality, but fans will be checking in on the Jaguars almost exclusively to keep an eye on Hunter's overall progress. NFL analyst Will Blackmon is well aware of the impact that Hunter is going to have not just on the Jaguars, but on the overall viewing public.
"They're going to track every single rep on offense, every single rep on defense," Blackmon said. "He might have one catch and maybe one PBU, and they're going to be there watching every single thing he does in this city. This is what they needed...People are going to pick tickets to a Jacksonville game just to watch this guy. There's going to be celebs on the sideline to watch him."
NFL analyst says Travis Hunter will be must-see TV
Hunter will try to become the first player in decades to play on both sides of the ball at a high level consistently, rather than for a handful of plays every now and again. The Jaguars plan on using him as a wide receiver primarily in the beginning of his career before gradually working his way into a more expansive defensive role.
Hunter has won individual awards for both his wide receiver and cornerback play in college, meaning that he has as good a shot at pulling this off as anyone in the league.
The Jaguars have a solid quarterback in Lawrence and the benefit of multiple standalone games thanks to their London dalliances, but they haven't had a singular player with the level of juice and electricity that Hunter brings in over a decade. If he reaches his full potential, Hunter should be one of the league's marquee attractions.
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