The Jacksonville Jaguars sent shockwaves across the NFL when they traded up to select Travis Hunter second overall in the 2025 draft. The two-way star joins budding star Brian Thomas Jr. and free-agent acquisition to form one of the most dynamic wide receiver corps in the league. And while the trio still has yet to play a snap in the regular season, they're already drawing lots of attention.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN ranked all 32 groups of playmakers in the NFL and placed Jacksonville at No. 18, pointing out that Thomas Jr. is already a game-changer two seasons into his career and will only get better after the addition of Hunter. Here's some of what Barnwell had to say about the sophomore wide receiver.
"Despite inconsistent quarterback play and an offense that never seemed to get right around him, he immediately stood out as a problem for opposing defenses," Barnwell wrote. "Few receivers of any vintage make things look as easy as he did, as he effortlessly glided away from defenders and snatched wayward passes out of the air."
Barnwell then gushes about Hunter's upside and wonders how dynamic he will be alongside Thomas.
"If the Jags rest Hunter on defense more often than Colorado did a year ago, he might also simply have more in the tank on offense. Few top-receivers pick come into the NFL with a wider range of potential outcomes in Year 1, but the upside of having two potential superstar receivers on rookie deals is clear for new head coach Liam Coen."
Despite being the fourth receiver off the board in last year's draft, Thomas was the most productive of the bunch, registering 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns. The fact that he did it while catching passes from Mac Jones (for most of the season) and on an unimaginative offense makes his rookie success even more impressive.
With the addition of Brown and Hunter, Thomas will likely see a decline in his targets but will also find more favorable matchups. Couple that with the fact that the Jags will make an emphasis on running the ball, and the Louisiana native has the potential to be even more of a game-changer in Year 2.
On the other hand, Hunter has already shown promise despite the fact that he's still working on the nuances of playing receiver at the NFL level. Even if he doesn't get a featured role to start the season, playing with Brown and Thomas will help him find success early on.
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The Jaguars will keep surging in rankings with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter in the fold
The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off an underwhelming pair of seasons, but the new regime has put in the work to steer the ship in the right direction. Their offense, in particular, looks promising after the offseason upgrades. Adding Dyami Brown and Travis Hunter to their wide receiver corps could propel their offense into the top half of the NFL. Of course, the potential is there, but the Jags' odds of turning into an offensive juggernaut lie on Trevor Lawrence bouncing back.
Lawrence has been hampered by injuries and inconsistency the past two years. He's expected to turn the corner under Liam Coen's tutelage. He's currently recovering from a shoulder injury and the subsequent surgery he underwent in 2024. The former Clemson Tiger will need to be at full strength by the opener to take advantage of his upgraded arsenal. If he does, the Jacksonville offense has the potential to become a juggernaut.
If things go according to plan, the Jaguars could have one of the most electrifying receiving duos in the NFL by the end of the season. At the same time, Trevor Lawrence would have reclaimed his spot as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and Jacksonville would be discussed as one of the most dynamic teams.
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