Travis Hunter was the No. 2 pick because Jacksonville believes he can do something no one else in the league is doing—play both ways at a high level. They’re betting on a player who broke every rule in college football and looked comfortable doing it. But the NFL isn’t built for that kind of experiment. The snaps are harder. The season is longer. And no one’s tried to do it full-time in decades.

Lavonte David, a 13-year Bucs veteran who has seen enough to distinguish between the NFL grind and collegiate glitz, knows what works. And most importantly, what doesn’t. He offered a frank assessment of Hunter’s ability to play both ways in the league in a recent interview with Barstool Sports. And it wasn’t the fairytale response Hunter fans were hoping for.

It began with adequate respect. One of the NFL’s most renowned defensive thinkers, Lavonte, was featured with Jon Gruden in a video where Gruden asked the crucial question: “When you look at Travis Hunter, coming in from Colorado, and everybody’s saying he’s going to play wide out and corner, I started thinking, not in this heat, man…But do you think he can do it both ways?” David didn’t mince words. “I think he can…I’m sure he’s a proud(full) guy. He wants to do it, but it’s a different beast, man.”

As David complimented Hunter’s attitude and self-confidence, he quickly brought the discussion back to reality. He said the Jacksonville Jaguars risked burning him out by spending too much draft capital. “They’re going to try to, like, manage him and make him a focal point on one side of the ball, wherever it may be…I think they’re going to try to take care of him as much as he can.”

It was more than simply football jargon. That was an experienced professional raising a red flag about the whole “Deion 2.0” story. The NFL isn’t a college playground. It’s weekly game plans, a rigorous schedule, and a physical toll that even Hunter hasn’t yet encountered. The message from David? Believe in the dream—but respect the grind. “For him to do that in college, you know, this is a testament to his work and his condition level.”

But David wasn’t dismissive. He showed belief and concern at the same time. A guy who has watched Pro Bowl players come and go understands how short the leash is when performance and health conflict. It was wisdom achieved the hard way. This was the first time a legitimate NFL voice publicly opposed the Travis Hunter experiment, cutting through all the hoopla Jacksonville is spreading about it. A compliment disguised as a wake-up call.

Travis Hunter’s two-way dream gets reality check after viral practice struggles

After Jacksonville’s summer exercises, the naysayers rushed in like vultures over a hot take after just a few wobbly reps and a few errors. Clips began to appear: Travis Hunter stumbling through routes, losing passes, and catching balls with his chest rather than his hands. And social media? Brutal. One comment said, “Generational they said… looks average as any WR.” Another remarked, “He purposely being bad so they finally put him with the DBs.”

Basically, it doesn’t matter that he recently moved into the building. Or that in the footage, he wasn’t even wearing gloves. Or that he has brand-new quarterback timing. The overreaction spotlight was on full blast. But in Jaguar’s headquarters? Actually, the exact opposite. Former All-Pro and current EVP Tony Boselli stated, “He’s exceeded my expectations.” Boselli commended Hunter’s leadership, vigour, work ethic, and athleticism. Indeed, he may need to work on his wide receiver skills, but his defensive game speaks for itself. Hunter finished the previous season with the second-best coverage grade of any corner in the draft, 90.3, according to PFF.

Because of this, Jacksonville still views him as a key member of the team, both on and off the field. Head coach Liam Coen echoed that belief, saying the team is building the entire operations model with Hunter’s two-way ability in mind. And Hunter? He’s embracing it. “My job is to come out and be Travis Hunter… and exceed all the expectations.”

So here we are: The rollercoaster is already seeing its first dip just a few days into Travis Hunter’s NFL career. The critics are loud and the vets cautious. But if history tells us anything, Travis Hunter was built to withstand this storm.