Can Travis Hunter play both sides in the NFL?

With the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Travis Hunter.

As Arik Armstead, the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year and starting defensive tackle for the Jaguars, approached the podium to announce the pick, he let out a big “DUUUVALL” for Jags fans (much better than Coach Coen’s, just in case anyone is keeping tally). After reading out Travis Hunter’s name, he finished by saying “wide receiver/defensive back”.

Both.

NFL fans, analysts, players, and coaches alike, dispute top picks from every draft, but Travis Hunter presents a new debate the NFL hasn’t taken seriously in nearly 30 years. A debate that we haven’t seen since Hunter’s former coach, Deion Sanders, was in an NFL jersey. Can he play both sides of the ball? Yes.

I’ll share my realistic expectations for Travis Hunter as a player who CAN do it all.

The landing spot

Jacksonville struck gold with WR Brian Thomas Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the team needed to bring in another big-time wide receiver to play opposite ‘BTJ’ for Trevor Lawrence. Travis Hunter fills that hole perfectly and will be the team’s WR2 right away.

Defensively, the Jaguars desperately needed a cornerback to play opposite Tyson Campell. It seems like the Jaguars will be asking Travis Hunter to be a star CB2 and WR2.

The experience

What football fans have seen from Travis Hunter to date is star power on both sides of the ball. It’s well understood that Jackson State and Colorado are not on the NFL level, not playing at NFL speed, against NFL strength, but to date, Travis Hunter has been a game-wrecker playing both wide receiver and corner in every game he’s out there.

There have been zero limitations on the way Hunter can impact a football game, and because of that, scouts and analysts are having a hard time predicting his potential. One thing is for sure, he is one of a kind.

The athlete

While the competition Travis Hunter has faced to this point can be questioned, his athleticism cannot be. He passes the eye test. His elite ball skills mixed with the way he glides on the field, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an NFL prospect move so effortlessly.

My only real concern is Hunter’s smaller frame at 6-foot-1,185-pounds. Combined with the expectation of playing both sides of the ball, his size could lead to a higher injury risk. But hey, this is football, there’s always injury risk.

All things considered, including the passion and competitiveness, you will see Travis Hunter as the WR2 and CB2 for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has great running mates opposite him on offense and defense with Brian Thomas Jr. and Tyson Campbell. They will take some of the pressure off of Travis to start his NFL career, giving him the room to become a game-wrecker at this level.

Way too early final prediction

If healthy, he’ll start on both sides in every game this season while playing 76% of the offensive snaps and 71% of defensive snaps.

Travis Hunter, Game On.