Travis Hunter was selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars after they traded up to acquire him. The team is thrilled about the two-way prospect, who is expected to play on both sides of the ball. With his rookie contract, Hunter set an NFL record.
“According to ESPN, the deal includes a $30.57 million signing bonus paid entirely upfront, making Hunter the first non-quarterback and non-No. 1 overall pick to get the entirety of the signing bonus upfront,” USA Today’s Nick Brinkerhoff wrote.
Hunter has made it clear that he wants to play both offense and defense—and if he’s not allowed to, he may consider walking away from the game altogether.
“It's never playing football again,” Hunter said. “Because I've been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
It appears that opposing teams are already strategizing for the possibility of Hunter playing both ways. Travis Kelce recently shared his thoughts on how teams might target him.
“Teams are going to be going after him,” Kelce said, via Andrew Battifarano of the New York Post. “They’re going to try and make his day miserable. . . . Dude, if he plays corner, they’re just going to run deep balls at him all day.”
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“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?”
This approach makes sense—especially if Hunter is playing both offense and defense. By the third quarter, he’ll likely be fatigued, with diminished stamina in his legs. Teams using this tactic may force the Jaguars into a tough decision: to limit Hunter to just one side of the ball.