Jaguars Lean on Versatile Travis Hunter at Cornerback in 2026

The team's top draft pick will see more snaps on defense as their receiver room has blossomed.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:52pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the dynamic nature of the player's role on the team.The Jaguars' flexible use of Travis Hunter reflects the team's evolving roster and the need to maximize his versatile skillset.Today in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to have 2025 first-round pick Travis Hunter play more cornerback in 2026 after he primarily focused on wide receiver as a rookie. This shift is not due to Hunter's development, but rather the Jaguars' receiver room improving significantly in his absence after he was sidelined by injury. With the emergence of Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington, the Jaguars now have a dynamic trio at wideout, allowing them to utilize Hunter's versatility more on the defensive side of the ball.

Why it matters

The Jaguars drafted Hunter, a two-way star, with the expectation that he would be a key part of their offense. However, his increased usage at cornerback in 2026 highlights how the team's roster needs have evolved, with the receiver position becoming a strength while the secondary has more question marks.

The details

When the Jaguars drafted Hunter, their plan was for him to primarily play wide receiver while also seeing snaps at cornerback. But after Hunter was sidelined by injury in Week 9 of the 2025 season, the Jaguars' receiver room blossomed without him. Jakobi Meyers, acquired via trade, and Parker Washington, who emerged as a breakout player in the second half of the season, formed a dynamic duo alongside Brian Thomas Jr. This allowed the Jaguars to shift Hunter's focus more to cornerback, where they have more needs after trading away Tyson Campbell and the Greg Newsome addition not panning out.

  • In Week 9 of the 2025 season, Travis Hunter was sidelined by injury.
  • At the 2025 trade deadline, the Jaguars acquired Jakobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders.
  • By the end of the 2025 season, Meyers and Washington had emerged as key pieces of the Jaguars' offense.

The players

Travis Hunter

A versatile 2025 first-round draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars who can play both wide receiver and cornerback.

Jakobi Meyers

A wide receiver acquired by the Jaguars via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, who went on to sign a 3-year, $40 million contract with the team.

Parker Washington

A wide receiver who broke out in the second half of the 2025 season for the Jaguars, emerging as one of the NFL's top young pass-catchers.

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What they’re saying

“When the Jaguars made the Hunter trade, they had Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, Montaric Brown, and new free agent signing Jourdan Lewis at cornerback. Not exactly a team that was hurting for cover men, even if Hunter has the talent and traits to be an All-Pro cornerback.”

— Author

“Once that happened, the Jaguars suddenly had a dynamic receiver trio without even including Hunter's talent. As for cornerback, the Jaguars traded Tyson Campbell a month into the season and the Greg Newsome addition never really paid off.”

— Author

What’s next

The Jaguars will monitor Hunter's usage and production at both cornerback and wide receiver throughout the 2026 season as they look to maximize his impact on both sides of the ball.

The takeaway

The Jaguars' decision to have 2025 first-round pick Travis Hunter focus more on cornerback in 2026 is not about his development, but rather a reflection of the team's evolving roster needs. With their receiver room now a strength, the Jaguars can afford to utilize Hunter's versatility more on defense, where they have more question marks in the secondary.