Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter named breakout candidate for 2026-27 season
Following the departure of Greg Newsome and the retention of key receivers, the 22-year-old is expected to prioritise cornerback duties in his sophomore campaign
Fox Sports analyst Greg Auman has identified Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter as a prime breakout candidate for the 2026-27 NFL campaign. The assessment comes as the franchise looks to build on a successful 2025 season that saw the team secure 13 regular-season wins and a home playoff game before a heartbreak against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card round.
Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, suffered a significant lower-body injury that ended his rookie campaign after just seven games. While his initial production was limited with 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown at receiver, alongside 15 tackles and zero interceptions at cornerback, Auman believes the 22-year-old will be fully recovered by the start of training camp.
The analyst suggests that Hunter should prioritise becoming an every-down cornerback for the upcoming season. This strategic pivot follows the Jaguars' decision not to draft a cornerback in the previous season and allowing Greg Newsome to leave in free agency, which sets up Hunter for a central role on the defensive side of the ball.
On the offensive front, the team's roster construction points to a reduction in Hunter's workload compared to his rookie debut. The franchise has signed Jakobi Meyers to a lucrative extension and retained Brian Thomas Jr., with Parker Washington also enjoying a breakout season last year. These moves indicate a deeper receiving corps that may limit the dual-threat player's snaps in the passing game.
Hunter remains a historic figure in the league, having become the first player in Pro Football Focus history to record the highest-graded rookie list in a single week. Despite the disappointing debut caused by the knee injury, Auman notes that a healthy version of the player in 2026-27 should be exhilarating to watch, with the expectation that he will excel in at least one of his specialties during his sophomore campaign.
