New Travis Hunter Rumors Update Jaguars' Outlook for 2-Way Star Entering 2026 NFL Season

The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to see Travis Hunter as a two-way player, but he may prove to have one clear area of expertise.

The MMQB's Albert Breer reported Monday the Jags "believe [Hunter] can become a shutdown corner," and the player "has since turned his focus to defense."

Fans didn't get a full picture as to whether the 2024 Heisman Trophy can effectively play offense and defense in the NFL. His rookie season ended after seven games, and his usage at cornerback was a little sporadic.

Jacksonville isn't abandoning the experiment just yet.

"We'll definitely have a package on offense to be able to get him some opportunities," coach Liam Coen said in August on The Rich Eisen Show (7:45 mark). "There's been a steady increase in his defensive work just by nature of where we're at on defense and continuing to try to create consistency. ... There's been a lot of detail and time-on-task this offseason. He'll absolutely have a plan on offense."

Coen's remarks do, however, reinforce the idea the Jaguars see Hunter as a cornerback first and a receiver second. That generally aligns with how evaluators viewed him heading into the 2025 NFL draft.

The Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department assessed him as a corner and compared him to eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson.

There's a pragmatic aspect at play beyond wanting to avoid putting too much on Hunter's plate.

Parker Washington took a big step forward in his third year. Brian Thomas Jr. should rebound after going backwards a bit in 2025. And Jakobi Meyers is a very good No. 3 option through the air. Jacksonville's receiving corps is in a solid place.

The same can't be said of the secondary. Greg Newsome II, who started 11 games following a midseason trade from the Cleveland Browns, left as a free agent and created a void at cornerback. The pass defense as a whole needs to improve after ranking 21st in yards allowed (218.1 per game).

The Jaguars could use an elite defender out wide, and that's exactly what Hunter may prove to be.

Coen can still deploy him as a pass-catcher in the right situations. Fans shouldn't be surprised, though, if there's a clear split in where he's lining up on a weekly basis.