TheJacksonville Jaguarshave been a revelation this season, the freshly crowned AFC South champions set to host their first playoff game in three years when theBuffalo Billscome calling Sunday afternoon. Riding an eight-game winning streak – their 13 regular-season victories the second most in the franchise's three-decade history – the Jags, one of four NFL teams to have never played in a Super Bowl, are as legita threat to win the Lombardi Trophy as any in this postseason field.
It's a stunning turn for a team that, just four months ago, was basicallyonlygenerating national interest for a decision that might wind up being a regrettable mistake – the selection of 2024 Heisman Trophy winnerTravis Hunterafter acquiring the second overall pick of last year's draft.
Super Bowl VII (Dolphins 14, Washington 7): Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Fernandez (75) tackles Washington running back Larry Brown (43) in Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dolphins completed a 17-0 undefeated season with the win." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XVII (Washington 27, Dolphins 17): Washington running back John Riggins (44) breaks loose from Miami Dolphins defensive back Don McNeal (28) on a 43-yard touchdown run during Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Washington 9): Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen (32) carries the ball against Washington safety Mark Murphy (29) during Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XXII (Washington 42, Broncos 10): Washington quarterback Doug Williams (17) looks to throw against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XXIV (49ers 55, Broncos 10) : San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig (33) celebrates with teammates against the Denver Broncos at the Superdome. The 55 points scored by the 49ers remains a Super Bowl record." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XXVI (Washington 37, Bills 24): Washington cornerback Alvoid Mays (20) hits Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (12), causing him to fumble during Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 51 (Patriots 34, Falcons 28 - OT): New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman hauls in a catch off a deflected pass that would help New England mount the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The game also featured the first ever overtime in a Super Bowl." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 53 (Patriots 13, Rams 3): Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore makes a pivotal interception in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the win, the Patriots tied the Steelers for most Super Bowl victories (six)." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 55 (Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9): Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski spikes the football after catching a touchdown pass during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 56 (Rams 23, Bengals 20): Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches the game-winning touchdown pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple defends at SoFi Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 57 (Chiefs 38, Eagles 35): The Chiefs' Kadarius Toney (19) is tackled by the Philadelphia Eagles' Nakobe Dean (17) and Arryn Siposs (8) after a Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return at State Farm Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 58 (Chiefs 25, 49ers 22, OT): Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) celebrates with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl: One great image from each game
Is it coincidental that theJaguars' season took off in earnestafter Hunter went on injured reserveon Halloween, eventually requiring season-ending knee surgery? Probably. Have they struggled to adapt without a guy who was a two-way star for two seasons at the University of Colorado but struggled to make any kind of impact on either side of the ball as a rookie for Jacksonville? Nope.
"Obviously, they don't miss him at all. They're one of the hottest teams going into the playoffs right now," former New York Giants vice president of player personnel Marc Ross told USA TODAY Sports.
"Of course, when he comes back, it'll be good to have another good player. But this whole notion of him being the savior obviously is not anywhere remotely close to the reality."
Such assessments are not intended as pointed criticism of Hunter, a fine prospect coming out of college and – by nearly all accounts – a fine young man. (Were you a married, multi-millionaire college graduate when you were 22? Me either.)
And the real rookie mistake here was likely committed by first-year Jags GM James Gladstone, who traded two Round 1 picks (including No. 5 overall last spring) and a second to the Cleveland Browns as part of a package that allowed Jacksonville to move up in order to enlist Hunter's services.
The Jaguars did not make Gladstone available to USA TODAY Sports. But this is what he said April 24, the night Jacksonville drafted Hunter: "There are players who have the capacity to alter a game. There are players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of a team. There are very few players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of the sport itself. Travis, while he has a lot to still earn, in our eyes, has the potential to do just that."
No pressure, Trav.
A bold, if curious, move had the full support of the organization's rebooted front office. It was also the rare one when a team so aggressively climbs way up the board for a non-quarterback.
"I thought Cleveland got a heist for that," says Ross. "This guy is not Calvin Johnson. A corner? They're not worth it (at No. 2), and there was no way he was gonna play both ways (full-time).
"I always thought Hunter was good, but I never thought he was a generational talent. I respected him for what he did in college, but I just didn't see either skill set transcending to be some sort of playmaker or difference-maker on either side of the ball. And, particularly, what they gave up to get him? I just thought it was incredibly short-sighted."
It's absolutelypremature to judge Hunteroff an inaugural season that lasted seven games. But he only caught 28 passes for 298 yards and a TD – the score coming in garbage time of his final appearance, a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London. Determined to play both ways as a rookie – an endeavor backed by the team – Hunter was even less noticeable defensively, making 15 tackles and breaking up three passes.
He was never going to be Megatron. He was never going to be a guy asked to lock up No. 1 receivers like AFC South rival Nico Collins on a consistent basis. But, certainly, more was expected in 2025 than for Hunter to be an AFC version of Bo Melton. (Who's Bo Melton?As Indiana coach Curt Cignetti would say, Google him.)
All told, Hunter played 486 snaps this season, roughly two-thirds of them on offense. By comparison, he had 2,625 during his two seasons with the Buffs, leading the FBS in both the 2023 and '24 seasons, including 1,483 in his final year. Hunter led the Big 12 with 96 catches and 15 TDs in 2024 while racking up 1,258 receiving yards, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
"In retrospect, it was almost as if they (Jacksonville) were a bad team, and they were building it up like Travis is the savior," said Ross, noting the Jaguars are typically a franchise in search of a boost in terms of ticket sales and public relations.
Notably, Gladstone swung midseason trades for veteran cornerback Greg Newsome and wideout Jakobi Meyers. Primarily, Newsome was a better scheme fit for the defense, and his arrival allowed the team to offload corner Tyson Campbell and his bloated contract. Meyers quickly helped to elevate the offense and signed a three-year, $60 million extension after coming over from the Las Vegas Raiders in November. He and second-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr. project as fixtures.
"Now that Jakobi's there, where does Travis fit?" wonders Ross. "It's really a conundrum."
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller also had misgivings – with foresight – about Hunter's situation.
"I never thought that it was gonna work with him playing both sides," Miller told USA TODAY Sports. "My concern was, this is not a very big guy. He's been hurt in college. I worried about the workload in the NFL and then just the size difference in the NFL. I don't see how tackling A.J. Brown is the best use of his skill set.
"I'm not surprised that he didn't come out and change the NFL with his two-way ability. It was like a good story more than it was a reality."
But Hunter and the Jags were seemingly committed to his dual-superstar narrative, Hunter splitting his time between offensive and defensive meetings, offensive and defensive practice reps during his first training camp.
"It don't faze me at all. I've been doing this for a minute,"he told USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell in August regarding his extraordinary rookie workload.
"I'm not worried about what people say. I'm just out here playing football, doing what I've got to do to help my team win."
NFL Network reported in Novemberthat the Jaguars currently plan to continue using Hunter on both sides of the ball in 2026.
"It's really, really hard for anyone to be great at one position in the NFL," notes Miller while also pointing out that Hunter didn't have nearly the same schematic structure in college as he does now.
Miller did have Hunter rated as the 2025 draft's best wide receiver, yet also notes he would have ranked behind the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze and Thomas had he been draft-eligible a year earlier.
Adds Miller: "My big pushback to the whole Travis Hunter Experience was he's gotta get great at one thing before he tries to do another."
Ross thinks Hunter – once he's fully healthy, whenever that is – should focus on being a slot receiver and maybe circle back to a DB role down the road.
Yet, down that road, it will eventually become more apparent what opportunity cost – if any – Gladstone will play for his bold gambit. Potentially similar to the San Francisco 49ers' misguided trade to get quarterback Trey Lance in 2021, if the team continues to excel, all will be forgiven anyway.
"It helps that they're winning – it masks the blunder," says Ross. "You keep winning, it cures those kind of mistakes."
Between the lines, less might be more as Hunter's career unfolds. But that could quite likely fuel the conclusion that more was way too much to get him in the first place.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Travis Hunter draft trade might reflect poorly on Jacksonville Jaguars
