The Jaguars gave up 4 draft picks for Hunter and are betting on his sophomore comeback
The Jacksonville Jaguars are not backing away from their most debated roster decision. The team confirmed during offseason programs this week that Travis Hunter will continue playing both offense and defense in the 2026 NFL season, a stance that arrives against a backdrop of scrutiny over his rookie-year knee injury, a blockbuster trade cost that divided the league at the time and still divides analysts now, and a Week 1 opponent that promises to make opening day unmissable.
The two-way role stays, with a notable defensive shift
General Manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen have been consistent in their messaging: Hunter’s dual role is not going anywhere. What is changing is the distribution. Hunter is expected to see an increased workload at cornerback during the upcoming season, potentially lining up as a starter opposite Montaric Brown, while still taking snaps on offense.
The team chose not to address the cornerback position through the draft or free agency beyond re-signing Buster Brown and bringing in undrafted free agents Devon Marshall and Preston Hodge, a deliberate signal that the front office views Hunter as the primary answer at the position.
During his rookie year, Hunter was used primarily as a wide receiver, recording 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown before sustaining a torn LCL in his right knee during an October 30 practice. His season ended after seven games, having also contributed 15 tackles and three pass deflections on the defensive side. He is currently working through rehabilitation during offseason activities, and Gladstone expects Hunter to be ready to participate fully by the time training camp begins.
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead, one of his most vocal supporters inside the locker room, has been effusive in his belief that Hunter is capable of handling whatever the coaching staff asks of him and has described his teammate as a genuine outlier whose combination of skills simply does not have a comparable precedent.
🚨TRENDING: Jacksonville #Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter showed off his new custom Bass Cat Jaguar boat.
The boat features “TH” logo I’m Him” wordmark, advanced fish finders, spacious deck, and high-end seating.
Hunter spends his spare time fishing.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) May 16, 2026
A trade still generating debate
The price Jacksonville paid to get here remains a significant part of any honest evaluation. To move up from the fifth overall pick to second in the 2025 draft, the Jaguars sent four picks to the Cleveland Browns: two first-round selections, a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick. Cleveland used those assets on defensive tackle Mason Graham, running back Quinshon Judkins, running back Dylan Sampson and offensive lineman KC Concepcion.
Critics of the deal have focused on the steep cost relative to what Hunter delivered in seven games, and on whether a full-time two-way starter was ever truly a realistic expectation at the NFL level rather than a compelling marketing concept. Supporters counter that evaluating any player who missed more than half of his inaugural season through injury is inherently unfair, and that Hunter’s college tape justifies extraordinary investment.
During his final year at Colorado, he allowed a 39.9 passer rating and forced incompletions at a rate near 20%, the kind of defensive production that scouts described in historic terms before the draft.
To absorb the offensive workload Hunter could not carry while injured, Jacksonville acquired wide receiver Jakobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders last November and signed him to a three-year, $60 million extension.
A reunion with a former teammate sets up opening day
Hunter’s 2026 season begins with a ready-made narrative. The Jaguars open on September 13 at home against the Cleveland Browns, the very team that received the draft capital Jacksonville traded away to move up and select Hunter.
Starting at quarterback for the Browns will be Shedeur Sanders, Hunter’s former University of Colorado teammate, who earned a Pro Bowl selection during his own rookie season after throwing for 1,400 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions across seven starts.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski are both preparing Hunter for that opener. Whether the Jaguars’ two-way experiment becomes the franchise-defining gamble they imagined it would be may start to come into focus on that first Sunday afternoon in September.