Jacksonville Jaguars’ two way star Travis Hunter turns full time cornerback

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. successful 2024 arsenic their first-round, 23rd wide pick. He showed magic connected the gridiron by clocking impeccable rookie numbers: 87 receptions connected 133 targets for 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns successful 17 games.

However, the franchise changed its manager to Liam Coen and drafted a two-way prima successful 2025. With Travis Hunter taking implicit the receiver reins, Thomas astir apt had a abrupt dip successful production. His drawback percentage, which was 65.4 successful 2024, dropped to 52.7. Why? Maybe due to the fact that Hunter played much of a receiver than a cornerback.The Colorado alum changed the team’s violative approach, wherever the targets went distributed. And helium became the halfway constituent of the team’s 2025 offense.

Travis Hunter astir apt clouded Brian Thomas Jr’s 2025 commencement successful Jacksonville

In Week 7 of 2025, Thomas clocked lone 31 yards due to the fact that Hunter took implicit arsenic the superior target. The two-way prima amassed 8 receptions connected 14 targets for 101 yards and 1 touchdown. This whitethorn person overwhelmed Thomas. Till Oct. 2025, the 2025 rookie recorded 28 catches connected 45 targets for 298 yards and 1 touchdown. Then helium got injured, and Thomas had to measurement up his game. What came of it? The WR whitethorn person felt pressured to instrumentality to his rookie game.

But alas, the LSU merchandise pushed himself and astir apt got injured doubly arsenic a effect [a precocious ankle sprain successful Nov. 2025 and a ft wounded successful Dec. 2025]. He could lone timepiece 48 receptions connected 91 targets for 707 yards and 2 touchdowns successful 14 games. He had 8 full drops. His spot was taken. Thomas aimed to stay Trevor Lawrence’s superior target. But alas! Travis Hunter yet assumed that role.

Liam Coen’s remark and Travis Hunter’s relation change

Anyhow, arsenic questions were mounting for the upcoming season, arsenic to who would beryllium the WR1 to Lawrence, a small alleviation came done the caput coach’s remark connected the third-year WR. On March 31, Liam Coen commented connected the LSU alum that existent areas volition beryllium improved with relentless pursuit, and past year’s show volition not beryllium pondered over. A fewer days later, different alleviation knocked connected Thomas’ door: Hunter volition instrumentality up the relation of full-time cornerback astatine Jacksonville. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports to cyberspace that the Heisman Trophy victor volition instrumentality up a full-time cornerback relation and part-time wide receiver relation successful 2026. Heavy Sports’ Keith Watkins reports that it was Hunter’s drawback number that made it wide that two-thirds of his playing clip successful 2025 came arsenic a receiver. He volition person immoderate violative snaps, but his superior work volition beryllium towards the antiaircraft broadside of the ball. The two-way prima played conscionable 7 games, but his PFF stats amusement that helium recorded 238 walk snaps and 85 tally snaps.

Brian Thomas Jr, Jakobi Myers and Parker Washington tin radiance astatine receiver

Now, wherefore would Hunter play full-time CB? To marque country for others.

Thomas whitethorn go the Jaguars’ apical receiver. Jakobi Myers [who was acquired mid-season from the Las Vegas Raiders] made an contiguous interaction with conscionable 9 games: 42 receptions connected 61 targets for 483 yards and 3 touchdowns. He could beryllium WR2. Meanwhile, WR3 could beryllium Parker Washington, who besides produced coagulated numbers successful 2025: 58 receptions connected 95 targets for 847 yards and 5 touchdowns. This wide demarcation of Hunter’s 2026 relation whitethorn besides enactment a afloat halt to Thomas’ commercialized rumors linking him to Geno Smith-led New York Jets. Or astir apt not? Only clip volition tell…