Travis Hunter, the guy the Jacksonville Jaguars traded a fortune for in the 2025 NFL Draft, is playing a wildly different role this season than anyone expected. We’re talking only nine percent of offensive snaps compared to 58 percent on defense. Yeah, that’s a huge drop, especially for a player drafted to be the NFL’s only two-way star.
The Patience Game Is Real In Jacksonville
Turns out, the Jaguars are playing the long game with their two-way phenom. Jonathan Jones of The Athletic dropped the scoop, reporting that the team is being “very patient” with Hunter, even though he’s already in his second NFL season. Why? That LCL injury from last year is still a big factor. One source told Jones that Hunter has “only played a total of nine games in his career, so it’s still very early in his career. He’ll help us win games this year and will continue to grow on both sides of the ball.” That’s the vibe coming out of Duval, and honestly, it makes sense when you look at the total reps. Nine games? That’s barely a full season.
Why Hunter Is Stacked On Defense Right Now
So, what’s behind this shift? Last season, before that LCL injury sidelined him, Hunter was on offense for 67 percent of the snaps and defense for 36 percent. Fast forward to this year, and it’s almost a complete flip. He’s at 58 percent defensive snaps and that measly nine percent on offense. The big reason for limiting his offensive usage is all about the depth at wideout. Jakobi Meyers, a trade deadline grab, is balling out, and Parker Washington has exploded as a legitimate star. Right now, Hunter is sitting at WR4, at best. The Jaguars straight up need him more on defense this season. Yeah, it’s a bit underwhelming to see his offensive game shrink like this, but when you have a 23-year-old talent who’s barely played nine full games, you have to be smart.
The Jaguars are committed to Hunter’s two-way dream, it’s just gonna take time. His offensive involvement should climb into double digits this year, but don’t expect it to hit that 67 percent mark again soon. For now, it’s defense first, limited capacity, and a whole lot of patience. There’s still a ton of career ahead for Hunter, so keeping him healthy and focused on one side of the ball for now feels like the smart play for the future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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