Jacksonville Jaguars make unexpected change with Travis Hunter
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, teams are actively evaluating their rosters and positioning both current and future players to compete at the highest level. The Jacksonville Jaguars enter this offseason as one of the league’s biggest surprises after a strong 2025 campaign. Now, they’ve set their sights on making a deeper postseason run.
A key factor in that success was the spark provided by wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter. Although Hunter missed time in 2025, the Jaguars acquired him in a major draft-day trade. MORE: Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones have two 2026 NFL Draft prospects they’d trade up for The plan initially called for Hunter to continue playing both sides of the ball, just as he did in college.
That plan now appears to be changing. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs on the field before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images Recent reports indicate that Hunter will transition into a full-time cornerback.
While he may still see some offensive snaps, his role on that side of the ball is expected to be minimal. This shift not only alters Hunter’s long-term outlook — and his dynasty fantasy value — but also impacts the Jaguars’ draft strategy. Given the depth at wide receiver in this class, the team could reasonably target that position in the draft.
As for Hunter, this development raises questions about how he will respond. He is a rare, generational talent who aimed to prove he could excel at both receiver and cornerback at the professional level. MORE: Rich Eisen, ESPN make major SportsCenter announcement However, the Jaguars likely anticipated the physical toll would eventually become an issue.