John Oehser
JACKSONVILLEThe Jaguars feel the same aboutTravis Hunternow as before.
General Manager James Gladstonemade that much clear as he discussed the 2025 season and 2026 offseason this week that while Hunter has work to do to prepare for '26, the team's confidence in the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner remains strong.
Very, very strong on offense and on defense.
Hunter, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, played seven games at cornerback and wide receiver as a rookie before missing the final 10 games of the season with a knee injury sustained in practice before a Week 10 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Gladstone and Coen discussed Hunter during their season-ending media availability at theMiller Electric CenterWednesday morning, with Gladstone saying the Jaguars "feel good about where we are heading into this offseason and what next year should hold" when it comes to Hunter.
Hunter as a rookie this past season played more extensively on both sides of the ball than any NFL player in nearly three decades, and Gladstone on Wednesday said that two-way approach will continue.
Gladstone said he expects cornerback to be a priority next season for Hunter, with starting cornerbacksMontaric BrownandGreg Newsome IIscheduled to become unrestricted free agents on the March 11 start of the 2026 NFL League Year.
"You can take a peek at expiring contracts on our roster and which side of the ball has more," Gladstone said. "Obviously at this point walking into the offseason, corner is a position that we have a few guys who are on expiring contracts.
Hunter as a rookie started four games, all at wide receiver, with 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown. He played extensively at cornerback, with 15 tackles and three passes defensed. Hunter had his best offensive game of the season in his final game, catching eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 35-7 Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Jaguars' wide receivers following a midseason trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for veteranJakobi Meyersdeveloped into a team strength, with the offense and quarterbackTrevor Lawrenceimproving at the same time. Wide receiverParker Washingtonled the team with 58 receptions for 847 yards and five touchdowns receiving this past season, with wide receiverBrian Thomas Jr.catching 48 passes for 707 yards and two touchdowns and Meyers catching 42 passes for 483 yards and three touchdowns.
Tight endBrenton Strangecaught 46 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns.
"I never really look at anybody as, like, one or two or three," Coen said when addressing whether Hunter would be the "No. 1" receiver moving forward. "It's just who do we have on the roster that's going to be active and that we can continue to work with and prepare through the offseason program with.
Added Gladstone, "The cool thing about our offensive system is each and every game presents a different problem for an opponent. You never know who it is that's going to pop off. You look back at the output of the collective. To be able to spread the wealth, so to speak, is a really positive thing.
