Travis Hunter's WR Role Revealed in New NFL Rumors Before Jaguars' Game vs. Browns

The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly plan on using two-way playmaker Travis Hunter primarily as a cornerback during Sunday's season-opening game against the Cleveland Browns.

"Travis Hunter, my understanding, is going to be a full-time cornerback," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported. "Not the full-time receiver that he was last year. He's still going to play receiver, he's got some packages. It's not red zone. I wondered if it might be. 

"It's not, it's more of a speciality situation. Basically, whenever they need him. That is the plan for this week, full-time corner and part-time receiver. It could actually flip next week or in the following weeks because he is that talented."

As Rapoport mentioned, this is a switch from Hunter's rookie season.

According to Pro Football Reference, he was on the field for 324 offensive snaps and 162 defensive snaps in 2025 before he suffered a torn LCL that limited him to seven games.

Hunter tallied 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown as a wide receiver to go with 15 tackles, three passes defended and one fumble recovery as a cornerback. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways surely played a role in Jacksonville's decision to trade up and select him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, and he showed flashes of that ability before the injury.

Yet Jacksonville has plenty of firepower in the aerial attack heading into the 2026 season.

Trevor Lawrence can target Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Brenton Strange, which gives him matchups to exploit all over the field. While Hunter would add another wrinkle with his speed, the Jaguars have more than enough weapons to thrive without him.

That makes him more important as a cornerback, and he will reportedly primarily focus on that in the opener.

Still, it is a testament to his overall talent that Rapoport suggested the roles could be flipped in the future depending on matchups. If nothing else, that will keep opponents guessing as the Jaguars look to get the most out of their second-year playmaker.