Travis Hunter barely got a full rookie season under his belt. A knee injury cut things short after just seven games. But the people inside the Jaguars building are already talking about him like he’s something they haven’t seen before.
On Wednesday, veteran defensive end Arik Armstead went on SiriusXM NFL Radio and dropped a hell of a compliment. He said Hunter is “probably the most naturally talented athlete, just pure athlete, I’ve been around” — and Armstead has shared a locker room with some serious talent over the years.
“He adds a lot of value on both sides of the football,” Armstead said. “I think he was starting to hit his stride before he got injured.”
That’s the thing with Hunter. He doesn’t just play one position. He lines up at wide receiver and cornerback, and he’s dangerous at both. In his limited action as a rookie, the No. 2 overall pick caught 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he racked up 11 solo tackles and three passes defended. Not eye-popping numbers, but enough to show what he can do when he’s healthy.
The Jaguars already have a deep receiver room with Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Brian Thomas Jr. So Hunter might actually make a bigger impact on the defensive side. That two-way ability is rare, and it gives Jacksonville a ton of flexibility. You can move him around, keep offenses guessing, and never tip your hand on what he’s doing next.
Armstead also pointed out something that often gets overlooked with young players who flash early: the game slows down in Year 2. “He’ll be going into his second year being in the same system, around the same coaches, and knowing what’s asked of him,” Armstead said. And that matters. A lot of talented rookies hit a wall because they’re still processing everything. Hunter won’t have that excuse this time around.
There’s naturally some chatter about a sophomore slump. It happens every year with high draft picks who looked like stars before getting hurt. But Hunter has been putting in work during the offseason and is expected to be fully ready for Week 1. The Jaguars are counting on him to be more than just a gadget player or a situational weapon. They want him to be a game-changer.
And if Armstead’s read on him is accurate, that’s exactly what they’re getting.
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