NFL Exec Says Travis Hunter Needs to Play CB, Not WR, 'To Reach His Highest Level'

Jacksonville Jaguars star rookie Travis Hunter hasn't made the two-way impact he was hoping to so far this season, and some feel that it's time for him to start focusing on one side of the ball.

While Hunter has spent most of his time at wide receiver while moonlighting as a cornerback, The Athletic's Mike Sando spoke to an executive from another team who said he feels he belongs on defense full-time.

"There is not one trait other than ball skills that makes him different on offense," the exec said. "To reach his highest level, he is going to be in one spot, and it is going to be at corner."

Through seven games this season, Hunter has 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown on offense while adding 15 total tackles and three pass breakups on defense. He had an impressive performance in Jacksonville's Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, most notably breaking up a deep pass intended for star receiver Davante Adams in a one-on-one matchup.

Another team executive agreed that Hunter belongs on defense but suggested that he should wait until after his rookie season to make the transition.

"The only way you prove that this worked is to let him play receiver this year, let him learn a complete offense, and then the next year, play him a majority on defense," the exec said. "You won't get value until like your third year."

Sando spoke to a coach who studied all 34 snaps of Hunter playing man coverage against pass plays on defense, and they said he "shows good closing ability and burst in his transition from both press and off-man coverages, but he also plays small at 185 pounds, getting thrown off routes by bigger wideouts and missing tackles." Despite his flashes of potential, the coach added that his lack of physicality could be too great to overcome.

The Jags (4-3) were on a bye in Week 8, so it will be interesting to see how they deploy Hunter when they return to action on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5).