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The NFL hasn’t seen a two-way talent quite like Travis Hunter in ages. Playing both sides of the ball is exhausting enough in college – now he’s bringing that rare skillset to the pros. He’s not just unique – he’s a football unicorn, a game-changing weapon that defies conventional player development.
The Jags and GM James Gladstone clearly believe Hunter’s worth the investment. They paid a steep price to jump three spots in the draft for the WR/CB combo, selecting him second overall. But Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce – while impressed with Hunter – has raised an interesting concern about how opponents might exploit his dual-role responsibilities.
Kelce Sees Hunter’s Endurance as His Biggest Challenge
“Hell yes,” Kelce responded when asked on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast if Hunter could succeed in the NFL. The future Hall of Famer called Jacksonville’s new star a “world class athlete” before highlighting what could become Hunter’s biggest weakness.
“Both sides? See… I don’t know how [the Jaguars are] going to divy it out,” Kelce explained. “Teams are going to be going after [Hunter]… they’re going to try and make his day miserable.”
It’s a brilliant observation from one of the game’s smartest players. NFL teams will absolutely target Hunter’s stamina as a potential vulnerability.
Think about it – opponents could send receivers on deep routes against Hunter all game long, forcing him to sprint repeatedly when playing cornerback. Then when he switches to offense, he’d face fresh defenders who haven’t been running themselves ragged.
The Chiefs are perfectly positioned to implement this strategy. They could deploy Xavier Worthy (who ran the fastest 40 in Combine history) to exhaust Hunter on defense, then have lockdown corner Trent McDuffie blanket him when Jacksonville has the ball.
Not every team has Kansas City’s personnel advantages, but this is absolutely a copycat league. If Andy Reid’s squad finds a formula to neutralize Hunter’s two-way impact, you can bet other teams will follow suit.
Jacksonville’s Plans: Managing Their Prized Investment
Hunter’s versatility is precisely why the Jaguars mortgaged their future to get him, shipping a 2026 first-rounder and additional picks to Cleveland. The same trait Kelce identifies as exploitable is what made Hunter the most intriguing prospect in years.
So how will Jacksonville manage his workload? Chief football strategy officer Tony Khan has already hinted they won’t push Hunter to unrealistic snap counts.
“I think there’s going to be different game flow,” Khan told The Rich Eisen Show. “Different games have different flows, but I know [Hunter’s] going to contribute and play a lot of snaps on both sides of the ball… 100 [snaps] is a lot, man.”
The Jags didn’t trade up for Hunter to keep him on the sideline, but they’re clearly thinking about load management. The team might ease him in early, perhaps featuring him more on one side of the ball initially while gradually increasing his two-way responsibilities.
With their massive investment in the Heisman winner, Jacksonville needs to be smart about maximizing his impact while preserving his effectiveness throughout games – and his career.
How they navigate this balancing act could determine whether Hunter becomes a revolutionary NFL star or just another cautionary tale about college skills that couldn’t fully translate to the pros.
