NFL 2025: Travis Hunter at Receiver and Cornerback, May Hurt Awards Chances

• Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter, playing receiver and cornerback, makes him an NFL unicorn
• While this is fun to watch, it can also be a challenge to gauge his performance accurately
• If he’s playing both sides, how does that impact his potential to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year or the Offensive Rookie of the Year?

Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Hunter At Receiver and Cornerback Could Damage His Award Potential

If 2X NCAA All-American and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter maximizes his limitless talents on the football field in the pros, he will be in the conversation for NFL Most Valuable Player. But when it comes to awards on one side of the ball or the other, he could face obstacles in getting recognition for one or the other.

While other players, including his former head coach at Colorado, Deion Sanders, have played both offense and defense in the NFL, they were never considered potential linchpins at both. Deion was used for certain offensive packages with the Cowboys, but his primary role was shutting down the opponent’s best receiver.

There is no comparing Hunter to players like the 60-Minute Man (aka Concrete Charlie), the Eagles’ Chuck Bednarik from 1949 to 1962. Bednarik was a center and linebacker and played the full NFL Championship Game in 1960 when the Eagles beat Vince Lombardi’s Packers, but he didn’t do it all the time.

With the game as fast-paced as it is today and with the 17-game schedule, it will be next to impossible for Hunter to perform at a high level on both sides of the ball.

Cornerbacks are generally not drafted for their tackling ability, making “business decisions” in shunning contact.

Wide receivers do not have to worry about getting their heads taken off by defensive backs.

In that vein, Hunter benefits from the league focusing on safety and keeping its stars on the field.

However, if teams do not throw near Hunter because of his coverage skills and great hands, then he won’t accumulate many of the glossy defensive stats that win awards like interceptions.

On offense, there are so many talented performers, it will be difficult for him to rise above them when doing it part-time.

Contemporaries Think It Will Be Difficult

Two likely Pro Football Hall of Famers, Richard Sherman and Davante Adams, have expressed their skepticism that Hunter can play offense and defense and maintain the excellence to make it worthwhile.

They are looking at it from the perspective of players who play the same positions Hunter is trying to play. Sherman was a 5X Pro Bowler and 3X All-Pro at cornerback, as well as a HOF All-2010s Team member. Adams, Aaron Rodgers’ favorite receiver, is a 6X Pro Bowler and 3X All-Pro.

Sherman doesn’t see it as possible, nor is it necessary.

Adams, now with the Rams, said during a podcast appearance that he doesn’t believe it’s possible to do what Hunter is planning to do at a high level, given the number of snaps he would need to take, among other reasons.

As a side note, Sherman and Hunter talked after the comments, and Sherman explained what he meant. Hunter did not take offense.

The Problem for Hunter if He Plays Receiver and Cornerback

While his play as a defensive back is unlikely to suffer because there will be games in which Hunter so completely shuts down his side of the field that he doesn’t have much to do. He’s unlike past cover corners in that he is willing to tackle. But if the ball isn’t thrown in his direction, how much energy will he expend?

Still, on offense, the greater likelihood is that he’s used as a receiver for a set number of plays so he remains fresh for the duration of the season. If the Jaguars make the playoffs, then they can expand his role as needed.

What this means to his chances to win either the Defensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, or both is that he won’t put up the glossy numbers on defense that generally get a player noticed. On offense, other rookies will put up huge numbers, including Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and maybe even Hunter’s Colorado teammate, Shedeur Sanders.

The OROY is always a quarterback, receiver, or running back.

The DROY is more eclectic, but since its inception in 1967, only nine cornerbacks have won it, the last being Sauce Gardner in 2022.

The Jaguars are not going to risk a player this talented by overworking him for effect. His role will primarily be on defense with select packages on offense. That lends itself to being frozen out at awards time.

So what are your thoughts and predictions for how the Jaguars will use Travis Hunter? Can Hunter play receiver and cornerback at a high enough level to justify it and win some awards?

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