Even though Travis Hunter has yet to play a down for the Jacksonville Jaguars, he's already getting the kind of attention that established veterans receive. It's easy to understand why. A two-way star at the collegiate level, it looks like he's not having trouble making the transition to the NFL. And if things go the way the Jags expect, he could join an illustrious list next year.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports drew up his annual list of the Top NFL players. For the 2025 edition, only one Jaguar made the cut: Brian Thomas Jr. However, another CBS Sports analyst believes that Hunter could join his teammate next year.
Josh Edwards thinks that the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner could make Prisco's top 100 list next year, citing his playmaking skills as a receiver as the main reason.
"Hunter's best attribute is the ability to play the ball in the air," Edwards wrote. "His statistics are irrelevant if he proves capable of being an asset on both sides of the football, because no one else has been able to achieve that feat in recent history. There will be a learning curve for Hunter, the wide receiver, but he is top tier in terms of getting off the line of scrimmage, attacking the ball in the air, and creating yards after the catch."
Hunter was the top cornerback and receiver prospect in the 2025 draft, and because the Jags had pick No. 5, it didn't look like they were going to be in a position to select them. However, rumors that they were planning to make a bold move surged just a couple days before the draft. In the end, they ended up moving up three spots for the West Palm Beach native precisely because of his ability to play offense and defense.
Hunter's onboarding began at receiver because of the nuances of the position, but he began to get reps on defense at the end of mandatory minicamp. He flashed throughout the offseason program, and his performance is expected to carry over into training camp.
Travis Hunter may not get many personal accolades but will make an impact for the Jaguars
There's no doubt that Travis Hunter will contribute on both sides of the ball as a rookie. The issue is that he may get a featured role early on, and that's because the Jaguars are stacked at both receiver and cornerback. This will, in turn, hurt his chances of getting any personal accolades. Then again, that may not matter to him.
When asked what he thought about his low Madden rating, Hunter said that he didn't care and was instead focused on being the best player he could be. He surely feels the same way about any potential awards. And that's the thing, the Jags won't rush him onto the football field. They're developing him in a way in which he isn't overwhelmed by the transition to the NFL while playing two positions.
Whether Hunter becomes a legitimate candidate for Rookie of the Year honors remains to be seen. On the other hand, nobody will bat an eye if he and Brian Thomas Jr. become one of the top receiving duos in the NFL by the end of 2025. Heck, a spot on Pete Prisco's top 100 shouldn't be ruled out either.
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