The Jacksonville Jaguars looked good in their Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but Rex Ryan feels the team needs to change the way one specific player is being handled.
The Jaguars beat the Panthers 26-10 on Sunday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Rookie Travis Hunter made his highly anticipated debut in the game, and he played on both offense and defense as expected. The No. 2 overall pick played 44 snaps on offense and just six on defense, however.
During the Monday morning edition of “Get Up” on ESPN, Ryan urged the Jaguars to focus on developing Hunter into a cornerback.
“Are you kidding me? The offense, he’s out there for 44 snaps on offense (and six on defense). Jacksonville, what are you doing, man?” Ryan said. “It’s a hell of a lot harder to find a corner than it is a receiver. Put him as a starting corner and let’s make him special as a corner. Forget all that other jazz about him playing both ways. We get it, you wasted an extra first-round pick. Put him at corner and let him make a difference at corner.”
Adam Schefter then said the plan for the Jaguars is to take a week-to-week approach with Hunter and that there are some games where the former Colorado star might play more on defense than offense. Ryan believes that is a terrible idea.
“So, in other words, you’re gonna end up getting an average-a– receiver and an average-a– corner. That’s what’s gonna happen,” Ryan said. “When you extend guys too much in this league, no, it ain’t gonna happen. I don’t care who he is. … He’s not gonna have the impact he should have on this football team unless you sell out, put him at corner and let him be a stud there.”
Rex Ryan is not sold on Travis Hunter playing both sides of the ball.
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 8, 2025
"Put him as a starting corner. … Forget all that other jazz." pic.twitter.com/cmQ0AFFkhe
Hunter had 6 catches for 33 yards and was targeted eight times in Sunday’s game. He recorded one tackle on defense.
Leading up to the draft, there were reports that most teams viewed Hunter as a player who can become a star cornerback in the NFL. A lot of prominent players and coaches have expressed skepticism that the Heisman Trophy winner can become a two-way star in the NFL, and Ryan is convinced that is not going to happen.
One of the biggest concerns about Hunter is whether he will be able to remain healthy enough to play both wide receiver and cornerback. It is entirely possible that the Jaguars will decide at some point that they are better off having him focus on one position.
