Sportsnaut
The Jacksonville Jaguars paid a premium to land Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft, trading up three spots from the fifth overall pick to the second overall pick in exchange for a package centered around a 2026 first-round pick and the 36th overall pick. Now, the big question is how they will use the two-way player.
On Monday, the first unofficial Jaguars depth chart was released, listing Hunter as a starting wide receiver alongside Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown, while also naming him as a backup cornerback.
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NFL depth charts released on team websites during training camp are typically created by members of the media and usually should be taken with caution. However, the Jaguars’ depth chart aligns with reporting this summer and the coaching staff’s approach with Hunter.
Jacksonville brought him in after he was picked and immediately had him focus on playing wide receiver. It’s the position NFL scouts considered him rawest at, with his route running among the skills needing improvement. He’s quickly stood out at Jaguars training camp on both sides of the ball.
Given his importance to an offensive-minded coaching staff, it makes sense to deploy him more at wide receiver. However, he will still see enough snaps at cornerback that he could potentially compete for top rookie honors at both positions.
Appearing on the Rich Eisen Show, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said there’s a real possibility that Hunter plays enough on both sides of the ball to win both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“I do think it’s possible. You know, he is committed, man. Like, he is committed to driving, not just himself, but his teammates as well. And I think that his teammates . . . these guys are challenging him. Every single day. Like, he doesn’t get a free pass because he was the second overall pick, and he’s Travis Hunter.”
Jacksonville Jaguars HC Liam Coen on if Travis Hunter can win both Defensive, Offensive Rookie of the Year
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While Hunter is one of the top NFL Rookie of the Year candidates in 2025, there’s a strong likelihood he doesn’t take home both awards. Even assuming he starts at wide receiver, he faces an uphill climb to overcome a class that includes Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward and Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton.
As for the odds of winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, Sauce Gardner is the only defensive back to win it since 2018 and he played at an All-Pro level in his first season. Hunter is also facing a pool of candidates that features New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter and Atlanta Falcons edge rusher...
