The NFL has seen elite athletes before, but few like Travis Hunter—a true two-way force who dominates both as a wide receiver and cornerback. It’s a rare skill set, one that’s both electrifying and exhausting. And now, the Jacksonville Jaguars are betting big that Hunter’s uniqueness will redefine how talent is used in the league.

Selected second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft after the Jags traded up with Cleveland, Hunter enters the league as a Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. But not everyone is sold on how sustainable his two-way usage will be — including future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce.

Appearing on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast with Will Compton, Kelce didn’t hold back his admiration:

“Hell yes, he’s going to be good,” Kelce said. “The kid’s a world-class athlete.”

But after the praise came a dose of real-world NFL skepticism.

“Both sides? See … I don’t know how [Jacksonville] is going to manage that,” Kelce continued. “Teams are going to go after him… try to make his day miserable.”

Kelce’s strategy? Test his endurance. Run deep routes at him all game long. Make him chase receivers at full speed, then turn around and try to beat top-tier cornerbacks on offense. That kind of dual load wears down even the best-conditioned athletes.

This isn’t just hypothetical. Kelce brought up a scenario involving his own team: imagine Hunter having to cover Xavier Worthy, the receiver who ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history — and then get blanketed by Trent McDuffie, one of the league’s premier corners, on the next drive. It’s a constant sprint, physically and mentally.

The Jaguars’ High-Stakes Gamble
Jacksonville didn’t just draft Hunter—they went all-in. The front office, led by GM James Gladstone, gave up a 2026 first-round pick and more to move up just three spots to land him. That’s not a move you make for a part-time contributor.

But even within the Jaguars’ own camp, there are signs of cautious optimism. Tony Khan, Jacksonville’s chief football strategy officer, acknowledged the tightrope they’ll have to walk.

“Different games have different flows,” Khan said on The Rich Eisen Show. “I know [Hunter] is going to contribute and play a lot on both sides … but 100 snaps is a lot, man.”

Translation: Hunter won’t be an ironman every week, and the Jaguars know it. They’ll need to be strategic—limiting his usage when necessary to maximize his impact when it matters most.

Hunter’s Versatility: Asset or Vulnerability?
There’s no question that Hunter’s versatility is his calling card. He’s a matchup nightmare on both ends of the field. But in a league known for grueling physical demands and weekly chess matches, that same versatility could become a target.

The NFL is a copycat league. If the Chiefs (or any other team) find success forcing Hunter to burn out, others will surely follow. And that turns his greatest strength into a potential weakness — a balancing act Jacksonville must manage carefully.

The Bottom Line
The Jaguars are hoping Travis Hunter changes the game. But the NFL isn’t going to make it easy. From divisional rivals to Super Bowl contenders, opponents will look for ways to exploit Hunter’s workload and wear him down.

If Jacksonville wants their gamble to pay off, they’ll need to strike a delicate balance: unleash Hunter’s generational talent without letting it become his downfall.