Travis Hunter will only silence critics if Jaguars’ $47m gamble is better investment than Chimere Dike

Travis Hunter can talk all he wants.

But until the theoretical two-way star actually becomes an NFL star, Hunter will keep forcing the Jacksonville Jaguars to answer for a blockbuster 2025 trade that currently makes the Cleveland Browns look smart.

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Hunter is adamant he can play both ways

“It didn’t bother me,” said Hunter, referring to the criticism he’s received since becoming the No. 2 overall pick of last year’s draft.

“They’ve been doing that my whole career.”

His NFL career has only totaled seven games, so far, and the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is facing a huge 2026 in the pros.

The Jags traded up to take Hunter, giving up a second-round pick and 2026 first-round selection, then handing him a four-year, $47 million contract.

Hunter’s impressive athleticism guided him to the Heisman Trophy at Colorado with head coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

“You’ve never seen a player like me,” Hunter told the Pivot Podcast.

But Hunter spent his rookie year as an average cornerback and lesser wide receiver, while the Jaguars went 13-4 and won the AFC South without getting enough weekly production from their No. 2 pick.

“I go in there every single day for about 15, 30 minutes throughout the day,” said Hunter, discussing Jacksonville’s expanded virtual walkthrough room.

Rookie year was setback for Jags’ plans

“Just going there and continuously burn out reps. I can burn out 30, 40 reps in 15 minutes every time I go in there.”

He added: “That room goes both ways.”

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Hunter will continue to challenge the norm in 2026, but Travis Kelce doubted his two-way ability before Hunter played his first NFL game.

“Teams are going to be going after him,” the Kansas City Chiefs star said on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast.

“They’re going to try and make his day miserable. If he plays corner, they’re going to run deep balls at him all day. 

“They’re going to run the wide receivers, just take off on him all day, just to try to get him tired. Why wouldn’t you just attack him that way?”

Chimere Dike showed Hunter how it’s done

Hunter then caught 28 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown, while collecting 15 tackles and three passes defensed on the opposite side of the ball before suffering a season-ending torn LCL in his right knee.

“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter told CBS Sports in April 2025, when discussing his reaction if an NFL team told him to focus on playing receiver or corner.

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That continues to be Hunter’s biggest holdback: Insisting he can play both positions, play after play, at an elite level in the NFL.

It hasn’t been done in league history, mostly because it’s seemingly impossible to do.

Making Hunter’s rookie season look even worse was the No. 103rd overall draft pick (fourth round) out of Florida/Wisconsin.

While Hunter bragged that he was both ways or bust in the NFL, Tennessee Titans rookie Chimere Dike shook off a frustrating 3-14 record to become one the best value pick of the 2025 draft.

Hunter can’t hold back Jags’ offense or defense

Dike made the Pro Bowl, earned a first-team All-Pro nod and was what Hunter was supposed to be in year one — a true asset all over the field.

Dike broke Hall of Famer Tim Brown’s rookie record for all-purpose yards, recording 2,427 and surpassing a mark that had stood in the NFL since 1988.

Dike also caught 48 passes for 423 yards and four TDs, while totaling 398 yards and two TDs on punt returns and adding 1,588 yards on kickoff returns.

“There are players that you can target and acquire that alter the trajectory of a football team,” said Jaguars general manager James Gladstone.

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“There are very few, and it’s rare to be able to target and prioritize a player who can alter the sport itself. And Travis is somebody that we view has the potential to do that.”

Right now, Hunter is a better defender than receiver, and the Jags should prioritize the latter position as they attempt to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

There’s no doubt that Hunter can help Jacksonville in 2026.

He can also prove that his ‘bust’ rookie year was a one-season aberration.

The problem is that the Jaguars traded up for Hunter like he was going to change the league, and a fourth-rounder drafted by the Titans is a better NFL player as a second training camp draws near for both.