The Jacksonville Jaguars have had a rough go at it over the last two years. Since making the playoffs in 2022 and winning one postseason game, injuries to their quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, have ruined back-to-back seasons. A reset was necessary, and the Jaguars got it this offseason.
After appointing a new general manager and head coach, the team was extremely aggressive in improving the roster. The most significant move came from trading up to select, arguably, the best player in the draft, Travis Hunter. Now, new general manager James Gladstone has offered a direct look into the biggest question surrounding Hunter.
Jaguars GM James Gladstone Breaks Down the Possibility of a Two-Way Role for Travis Hunter
After spending nearly a decade with the Los Angeles Rams, Gladstone was appointed the new GM in Jacksonville. His prize acquisition came immediately, as the Jaguars traded up from the fifth pick to the second overall pick to draft Hunter.
The Colorado Buffaloes sensation had an electric campaign, winning the Heisman Trophy thanks to his prowess on both sides of the football. According to most draft experts, Hunter is profiled as one of the best corners and wide receivers in the entire class.
Going into the draft, the biggest question surrounding the superstar athlete was his viability as a two-way player in the NFL. Given the physicality and toll of the league, there were doubts about whether a team would let him go both ways, something Hunter was insistent on doing.
Now, after rookie training camp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamps, the Jaguars seem to have an idea of how to use Hunter. During an appearance on the NFL Radio on SiriusXM, Gladstone discussed these plans.
“Our understanding that Travis is most naturally comfortable, most naturally in-tune on the defensive side of the ball, we wanted to load him offensively throughout this window so that by the time we got to training camp, we had a runway built up on that side.”
Calling the wide receiver position one that requires the most adjustments and nuance, Jacksonville clearly had a clear goal in mind. After he was attuned to the offensive game plan, the next step was to mix in the defense towards the end of the offseason.
However, despite those preparations, Gladstone wasn’t willing to commit to the frequency of snaps Hunter would spend on the field. In Colorado, he averaged over 115 snaps a game in his Heisman-winning season.
“Time will truly tell,” is all that Gladstone offered before explaining, “He does not tire. He has got a spark, he has got the energy, the capacity from a physical standpoint to be able to do it.” He concluded, “Putting a number on it at this stage is, I think, premature.”
.@Jaguars GM James Gladstone talks about the development window for rookie CB/WR Travis Hunter
🔗https://t.co/v3G0iz5IH6#DUUUVAL | @AndrewSiciliano @maxstarks78 pic.twitter.com/QIK3ZvdR54
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) June 17, 2025
From the sounds of things, though, it looks like Hunter will be lining up at both corner and wide receiver throughout the upcoming season. But, matchups and the game plan might dictate his usage from week to week.
As Hunter tries to accomplish something previously thought impossible, it should be interesting to see how effective he is at both spots, whether the fatigue gets to him, and how the Jaguars respond.