The Jaguars didn’t just make a pick—they made a statement. The 2025 NFL Draft may be in the rearview, but Jacksonville’s decision to trade up and snag Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall is still sending shockwaves through the league. From the moment Commissioner Roger Goodell read Hunter’s name, it was clear: the Jaguars are going all-in on one of the boldest experiments in recent NFL history. And you know who saw it coming? Coach Prime.

Deion Sanders had already set the tone before draft night. He made it clear during his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show that if an NFL team wasn’t going to use Travis Hunter as a true two-way threat—don’t bother. “Don’t draft him if you’re not gonna give him a opportunity to play on both sides of the ball,” Deion said, straight up. “Travis could definitely do that. He’s gonna do that—or they shouldn’t draft him.” Well, it sounds like GM James Gladstone got the message loud and clear.

On May 3rd’s The Insiders episode on NFL Network, things got spicy. Analyst Cameron Wolfe posted a clip on X asking if Travis Hunter is the real-life Boobie Miles—a reference to the Friday Night Lights legend who could do it all. While that sounds dramatic, it’s not far off. Wolfe laid it out: “The plan for the Jaguars is to have Travis Hunter start as an offensive player versus the wide receiver on the field as he learns that defensive plan. That’s Liam Coen’s direct words.”

Now, the Browns reportedly viewed Hunter as a WR who could do a few defensive packages. But not Jacksonville. Nope. They see him as a full-blown two-way monster. “I was in Cleveland throughout the draft. They saw Travis Hunter as a wide receiver who can play a package of plays. The Jaguars truly see Travis Hunter as a two-way player. They think that eventually he’ll be able to play full-time on both routes,” Wolfe added. “Something that has never been done before.” This isn’t just innovation—it’s revolution.

Despite having the No. 5 pick, Jacksonville wasn’t willing to gamble on Hunter falling. They packaged a deal—sending the 5th overall, the 36th pick, and next year’s first-rounder—to jump to No. 2 and make sure they got their guy. It wasn’t just a draft pick. It was a leap of faith.

For Travis Hunter, it wasn’t just about landing in the NFL. It was a homecoming. Speaking with Jaguars team reporter Kiani Stevens, Hunter couldn’t hide the emotion. “I came back home to play my first college game in Florida, and now my first NFL game is with a Florida team. If it’s not home, it’s close to it.” But here’s the twist—Hunter didn’t even see Jacksonville coming. “I really didn’t know. I didn’t really have an idea,” he admitted. Despite limited conversations post-Combine, he revealed that both Jaguars coordinators had reached out before draft night. And yes, there was already talk of him focusing primarily as a wide receiver. But the Jaguars took the risk…

Travis Hunter: Jacksonville’s two-way gamble

Plenty of execs play it safe. But James Gladstone is swinging for the fences. Why? Because Travis Hunter isn’t your average rookie. He’s a statistical freak. In college, he averaged over 112 snaps per game. Played 90% of reps across both sides of the ball. He was everywhere. That kind of usage is unheard of in the NFL, where one position is hard enough to master. But Gladstone and HC Liam Coen think Hunter is built different. They’re not betting on a WR or a CB. They’re betting on a weapon.

And it helps that the blueprint already exists—at least in college. From Jackson State to Colorado, Hunter thrived under Deion Sanders, who gave him the green light to go both ways. “It’s a blessing to be able to play for him,” Hunter said. “He let me go out there and just do my thing.” That freedom led to a Heisman, a trophy case full of awards, and now, a $40+ million NFL contract.

But what do the Jaguars’ legends think? Turns out, Fred Taylor—the one who basically built the Jaguars’ ground game—has thoughts. And he’s not pulling punches. On 1010XL, the former Pro Bowler said, “I said I would love Travis Hunter. And, you know, I didn’t know that it was all that possible, right?”

Now, imagine the physical toll Hunter might face juggling offensive and defensive roles in the pro league. Taylor acknowledged the risk, especially of giving up a future first-rounder. “Because if you play the way you played a year ago, then you go, man, was it worth it?” he said. “But he’s a generational type player.” That word—generational—is what keeps coming up. That’s not something you hear thrown around lightly. It means Gladstone and the Jaguars aren’t just hoping for production. They’re hoping for a legacy.

Jacksonville knows it won’t be easy. Managing reps, keeping Hunter healthy, and finding the right balance between offense and defense—it’s a coaching challenge unlike any other. But if they pull it off, they’ll have something no other NFL team can claim: a true two-way superstar in the modern game.

Deion Sanders gave the NFL a warning, and GM James Gladstone took it seriously. Now, the Jaguars are going all-in on a player who could redefine what’s possible in professional football. So is Travis Hunter about to make history… or did Jacksonville just bet the house on a dream?