Jaguars' Travis Hunter Faces NFL Two-Way Role Skepticism from Coaches, Analysts

Travis Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars rookie drafted to play both wide receiver and cornerback, faces skepticism from several veteran NFL voices about his ability to sustain a two-way role at the professional level. His college coach Charles Kelly endorses using Hunter primarily on defense, where his ball-hawking skills can be most effective, while allowing situational offensive plays. NFL analyst Greg Cosell highlights the complexity of the Jaguars' offensive system, suggesting that mastering the wide receiver role alone is demanding, making a dual-role challenging. Former coach Eric Mangini questions Hunter's endurance and the feasibility of playing both positions given the physical and mental grind of the NFL season. Veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson echoes doubts, emphasizing the difficulty of competing against elite offensive and defensive players and enduring the physical toll, especially in the AFC South's heat and humidity. Despite Hunter's unique talent and potential to be a game-changer, the consensus is that the transition to a full-time two-way player in the NFL remains highly uncertain.