Can the Jaguars Bold Travis Hunter Move Finally Turn the Franchise Around?

Travis Hunter has been one of the biggest talking points ahead of the 2025 NFL season. While few doubt the talent of the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, some do question how much the Jags gave up to land him.

"A trademark of this leadership group is that when there's an opportunity to be bold, we're not going to flinch," new general manager, James Gladstone, stated proudly. "This is certainly a statement for how we plan to move."

Bold moves are likely to be needed by a franchise that has reached the playoffs just twice since the 2007 season and has never reached the Super Bowl. At the same time, it's fair to say the Jacksonville Jaguars have made some bold moves in the past and some of these - like giving the head coach job to Urban Meyer - have been disastrous.

Yet, with a new leadership group, including GM Gladstone and head coach, Liam Coen, perhaps the Jaguars are finally in a place to turn the ship around. So is Travis Hunter the right pick to be the face of the franchise, what does his ceiling look like in the NFL and is Hunter's upside worth what the Jags gave up to acquire him?

A Hall of Fame Ceiling

It's clear Travis Hunter is one of the most hyped prospects in the recent history of college football. He's also one of the most intriguing prospects we've seen come into the NFL in some time. A genuine two-way player, who excelled for the Colorado Buffaloes as a wide receiver and a cornerback, it's difficult to even draw meaningful comparisons.

In addition to his Heisman Trophy in 2024, he's the only player to ever win the Bednarik Award for the best defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver in college football in the same year. In his final college football season, Hunter played 713 snaps on offense and 748 on defense.

People are already looking at NFL records Hunter could break in his first season. Barring any issues that prevent playing time, he's almost certain to play the most snaps of any player in 2025. Back in April, when asked how many snaps he could play in an NFL game, Hunter replied: "All of them if they give me the chance."

Some experts are already describing Hunter as having the kind of potential that could land him in the Hall of Fame by the end of his career, but potential isn't a guarantee. Braver, bolder pundits have even suggested Hunter could change the entire game. That remains to be seen, especially given the potential pitfalls ahead.

Playing both ways at NFL level is going to place huge demands on his body and will increase the risk of injuries. Nevertheless, a player with one-of-a-kind ability has the potential to influence future generations. 

A Price Worth Paying?

While very few debate the potential Travis Hunter has, one of the biggest talking points around the pick has been what the Jaguars had to give up to get him. To trade up to the number two pick, they had to give up their number five pick, a second-round pick, a fourth-round pick and their first-round pick for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Proponents of the move, including the current Jags leadership, will argue it's an aggressive strategy, designed to get the player they wanted; a unique player with immense potential who could be the face of the franchise for years. Certainly, if nothing else, it's an exciting move. If Travis Hunter works out and becomes a superstar in the NFL, it's also fair to say nobody will care what the Jags gave up to land him.

Picks on their own also don't mean much and the Jaguars know this first-hand. Let's think back to when the Jaguars traded a disgruntled Jalen Ramsey to the LA Rams in exchange for two first-round picks. Few would now argue the Jags came out on top in the trade, because those picks turned into K'Lavon Chaisson and Travis Etienne.

On the other hand, if Hunter doesn't work out the way people hope - for any reason - it could prove costly and people all around the world will be logging on to Bety and placing bets against the Jags for the next few seasons. It could also spell the end for their youthful new leadership team.

Shared Responsibility

Many Jaguars fans will be cautious about Travis Hunter's potential to push the franchise towards success. After all, we've seen similar levels of hype in the past, without the payoff - at least so far.

In the 2021 NFL Draft, Trevor Lawrence joined the Jaguars with immense hype and proclamations that he was a generational QB prospect. We've certainly seen glimpses of his ability and there are other factors at play, including injuries and coaching disasters, but he hasn't yet lived up to that initial hype.

It's also important to have reasonable short-term expectations of the Jaguars. Even with Hunter on the roster and the new leadership in place, most bookmakers put the over/under on regular season wins at just 5.5 for 2025. You may be better off playing premium Bety games than regularly betting on Jacksonville during the upcoming NFL season.

The Hunter acquisition is part of a long-term vision for the team, but much will depend on the relationship he and Lawrence develop on the field. It's also hoped that Liam Coen, with his offensive coordination talents, will be better placed to get the most out of Lawrence than previous Jaguars coaches, while also nurturing Hunter's abilities.

Final Thoughts

In truth, the Hunter acquisition is destined to be debated for years. It's not a move that's likely to result in an immediate transformation of the Jaguars into a Super Bowl contender and there's certainly an element of risk to what they gave up to get him. But, if he turns into the generational talent he's hyped to be, it could be the exact kind of shrewd, aggressive move that can turn a franchise's fortunes around.