Travis Hunter To Play Cornerback And Receiver For Jacksonville Jaguars? NFL Draft Trade

After trading up to select former Colorado Buffaloes star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to let Hunter play both cornerback and wide receiver.

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter is selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the number two pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After trading up to select former Colorado Buffaloes star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to let Hunter play both cornerback and wide receiver.

"They told me they were going to let me go out there and do what I do," Hunter told ESPN broadcast. "They put me on the phone with both coordinators so I am going to go out there and do what I can do."

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter is selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the number two pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Hunter is the first player to be announced at the NFL Draft as both a cornerback and a receiver.

"Jaguars are expected to play their first-round draft pick Travis Hunter on offense and defense. They will on-board him by giving him a heavy dose of the wide receiver position while still playing him at his more natural position on defense. Two positions for pick No. 2," Adam Schefter reported.

As many expected before the draft began, the Tennessee Titans selected Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick, but there was some conversation surrounding the No. 2 pick and the Cleveland Browns. As Thursday night drew closer, more rumors swirled of a trade. Here are the official trade details:

• Browns are trading the No. 2 overall pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 104), and a sixth-round pick (No. 200) to the Jaguars.

• Jaguars are trading the No. 5 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their 2026 first-round pick to the Browns.
  

It's a huge pick up for Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter is selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the number two pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Any team picking early in the draft needs help at multiple positions, and Hunter can provide a spark on both sides of the ball. A dynamic athlete, Hunter proved his elite abilities at Colorado with Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders trusting Hunter to compete at both positions at the highest level.

At Colorado's NFL Showcase, Sanders spoke about how he would coach Hunter in the NFL in an interview on ESPN's SportsCenter.

"I would send him with the offense because the offense is harder to digest," Sanders to ESPN. "It's harder to understand. "Defensively, he's probably gonna be in man [coverage] most of the time, cover three, cover four, two, whatever. That's easy, that's very simplistic for him," Sanders continued. "But getting the understanding of the offense and the checks and timing with the quarterback and that relationship. That's where he should go first."

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In one of his many interviews as a top NFL Draft prospect, Hunter made it clear that he wants to play on offense and defense at the next level. Hunter spoke to CBS Sports about how he wants to be announced by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

"He better say wide receiver and DB (defensive back). He's got to," said Hunter when asked what position he wants to hear from Goodell.

Goodell did listen to Hunter's wishes, reading off both positions when revealing the Jaguars' first-round pick. More importantly, the Jags agree with the commissioner based on their supposed plan for Hunter.

Apr 23, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/quarterback Travis Hunter speaks to the media during the NFL Draft prospect clinic with Special Olympics at Draft Experience Field at Titletown. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In his college career, Hunter's best season was his final one. He caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a wide receiver. At defensive back, he finished the year with 35 total tackles, 11 pass deflections, and four interceptions.

Hunter was recognized for his efforts on both offense and defense, becoming the first player ever in college football to win the Chuck Bednarik Award as the country's best defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the top wide receiver in the nation. Hunter also won both awards in the same season, in addition to the Heisman.

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