Travis Hunter learns fate as Jaguars decide two-way experiment is over and change unicorn’s role

Trevor Lawrence will likely be without an explosive wide receiver in Travis Hunter next season, at least for the most part.

This comes amid a recent report from NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe that the Jacksonville Jaguars have finally picked a side and are planning to use the 22-year-old as a cornerback instead.

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“Jacksonville are coming off a magical season and they think 2026 can be even better because they get their unicorn back,” Wolfe said on Friday night.

“Travis Hunter is expected to be 100 percent full-go by Week 1. He had surgery on the LCL in his knee. He will play both sides again in 2026.

“The big change may come in the usage. I understand that they plan to play him as a full-time cornerback, a part-time receiver, which is a switch from last year when he played more than double of his snaps at receiver than cornerback.

“I hear fantasy football fans groaning. They think Travis Hunter can be an elite cornerback and still an impact player on offense.”

Wolfe also went on to add that the expectation is that one of either Montaric Brown or Greg Newsome II will depart in free agency, which in turn, will open up a starting cornerback spot for Hunter next season.

“Still a huge impact player for the Jags, just different than what it looked like in his rookie season,” he added.

Very expensive CB

In his two-year collegiate career at the Colorado Buffaloes, Hunter recorded 1,984 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns as a wide receiver.

He also tacked on 47 tackles, including three tackles for loss and seven interceptions playing at corner.

Having established himself as a superstar two-way threat under NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders in Boulder, entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Hunter, who wanted to do what none had done before him, was considered a top first-round selection.

With many teams vying for the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner‘s unique talent, Jags general manager James Gladstone made the bold decision to trade Jacksonville’s No. 5 and No. 36 picks in the draft to the Cleveland Browns to move up to No. 2 to select the Florida native.

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The Browns used those two picks on DT Mason Graham and RB Quinshon Judkins, who each enjoyed stellar rookie campaigns at the Dawg Pound and alsop have the 25th pick in this year’s edition as part of the package.

Meanwhile, Hunter made just seven appearances in his rookie campaign due to a season-ending shoulder injury, recording 298 yards and one touchdown – scored across the pond in London – from just 28 receptions.

With some having already labeled him as a ‘bust’, the news that he will be deployed at cornerback for the majority of his snaps in 2026 and beyond now has fans believing that the Jags gave up too much just for a defensive player.

“So the Jaguars traded two 1sts, one 2nd, and one 4th to move up to draft a cornerback. Yikes,” one fan wrote on X.

“Holy s***, Browns won the trade,” a second added.

Others, though, are fully supporting the decision made by the team believing it will bolster the Jaguars in the long-term.

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“An elite CB is harder to find. So it’s better to develop him there,” one fan commented.

“My opinions on the Travis Hunter news. Best cornerback prospect I’ve ever scouted going to be deployed full time at CB. Sign me up. 1 of 1 athlete with SPECIAL ball skills and all pro WR potential getting the opp to be a chess piece alongside an elite WR trio. Sign me up x2,” a second wrote.

“They got scared by the injury, only reason they changed their mind. He was starting to look the part as their best player on both sides of the ball before he got hurt. Not sure how happy he will be being limited, but he’ll be electric either way,” a third contributed.

“Jaguars finally realizing what colorado already knew: Travis Hunter locks down WRs better than he cooks them Let BTJ & Parker eat, Hunter bout to be DPOY candidate by Week 5,” a fourth predicted.

Jags core looking dangerous

After Hunter was ruled out for the season with his shoulder injury, the Jaguars sought reinforcement on the market, and traded for disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.

This move proved to be a huge success, with the 29-year-old’s arrival opening up ample opportunities for head coach Liam Coen’s entire receiving corps, including Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr.

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Finishing with a 13-4 record, the Jaguars won only their second division title in franchise history, though they fell narrowly shy of winning their first playoff outing since 2022.

With so many receiving options available, it seems Hunter’s skillset would be best served on the defensive side of the ball, with him occasionally lining up on offense as a fourth receiving threat for quarterback Lawrence to take advantage of.

However, the Jags could enter the campaign without utility running back Travis Etienne, with him being linked with making the switch to join Patrick Mahomes at the Kansas City Chiefs.

Nonetheless, in 2026 Hunter will be looking to bounce back and be electric on defense in front of a limited 43,500 capacity at EverBank Stadium as construction gets underway for Jacksonville’s $1.4 billion ‘stadium of the future.’

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