Travis Hunter may still believe he can become the NFL’s first true modern two way superstar, but criticism around the Jacksonville Jaguars’ blockbuster investment in him is only growing especially after the rapid rise of Tennessee Titans breakout star Chimere Dike.
Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, entered the NFL surrounded by historic hype after Jacksonville traded significant draft capital to move up and select him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2025.
The Jaguars then handed him a four-year contract worth roughly $47 million, betting heavily on his rare ability to play both wide receiver and cornerback.
But one season into his professional career, questions are already emerging about whether the gamble has truly paid off.
Hunter’s rookie season was disrupted by inconsistency and injury.
Before suffering a torn LCL that ended his campaign early, he recorded modest offensive numbers while still adjusting defensively to the speed and physical demands of the NFL.
Despite the criticism, Hunter has remained defiant.
“It didn’t bother me,” Hunter said about the doubts surrounding him. “They’ve been doing that my whole career.”
The biggest challenge surrounding Hunter remains his insistence on playing both sides of the ball full time something rarely sustained successfully in NFL history.
“You’ve never seen a player like me.”
However, comparisons with Titans rookie Chimere Dike have intensified.
Drafted in the fourth round, Dike became one of the surprise stars of the 2025 season, earning Pro Bowl and All Pro recognition while breaking Tim Brown’s long standing rookie all purpose yards record with 2,427 total yards.
His emergence has created an uncomfortable contrast for Jacksonville.
While Hunter remains a projection of what he could become, Dike has already delivered elite level production at a fraction of the cost.
NFL figures had warned about the physical difficulty of Hunter’s two way ambition even before his debut.
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Chiefs star Travis Kelce predicted teams would deliberately target him physically if he tried to play every snap both offensively and defensively.
Still, Jacksonville’s leadership continues to back the former Colorado star.
General manager James Gladstone described Hunter as:
“Somebody that we view has the potential to alter the sport itself.”
The 2026 season is now shaping up as a defining one for Hunter.
If he develops into the transformational player Jacksonville envisioned, the criticism will fade quickly.
But if Dike continues outperforming him while the Jaguars struggle to maximize their expensive investment, questions around the trade may only become louder.
