The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed first-round draft pick wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter.
Hunter was drafted second overall in the 2025 Draft, the result of a massive trade between Jacksonville and the Cleveland Browns. He signed a four-year, $46.65 million deal, fully guaranteed. The Jaguars also made a tongue-in-cheek reference to Hunter’s ability to play offense and defense by posting two separate signing announcements on X, one for each position.
“We have signed WR Travis Hunter,” the Jags posted following his signing Sunday. They followed it with a nearly-identical post, swapping wide receiver with defensive back in the text and the graphic behind Hunter.
The team also posted a thread of media showing Hunter playing both ways. The first showed Hunter lined up as a wide receiver, wearing the offense’s teal practice jerseys; then next to himself in a cornerback’s stance wearing the defense' white jersey. The next post showed action shots of Hunter in both jerseys. It also included a video of Hunter putting on his white jersey before lining up to play defense.
Hunter’s contract is fully guaranteed, and includes a $30.57 million signing bonus which he will receive up front. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said his signing bonus is a record, and also makes him the first non-quarterback not drafted first overall to receive his signing bonus fully upfront. Hunter’s $8.5 million cap hit is the eighth-highest on the team. Hunter is the latest first-rounder to sign his rookie deal; the only two first rounders who have not signed their deals are Denver Broncos 20th overall pick defensive back Jahdae Barron and Cincinnati Bengals 17th overall pick Shemar Stewart.
“It feels great,” Hunter said in an interview on the Jags’ official website Sunday. “I’m very excited and ready to get to work.”
Hunter explained his mindset throughout Jacksonville’s offseason program.
“It doesn’t feel like I’ve been running at full speed,” he said. “I’ve just been myself, just getting the work done that’s
needed to be done.”
Hunter said he is planning on taking a trip with some of his teammates during the break before training camp, but was still planning on training during the trip. “I’m going just be working my butt off [to be ready] for training camp,” said Hunter, adding later that he is not getting sick of the process of growing this offseason.
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Hunter was listed as the number 1 prospect in the country by 247Sports and Rivals, and number 2 overall by ESPN. Originally committed to Florida State, Hunter shocked the football world by flipping to Jackson State, an FCS program being coached by NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Hunter played in 8 games, recording 18 receptions for 188 yards and 4 touchdowns. On defense, he had 19 total tackles, 2 interceptions, a pick-six, 8 passes defended, and a fumble recovery.
When Sanders took the head coaching job at the University of Colorado, Hunter transferred to follow him. He played nine games for the Buffaloes in 2023, catching 57 passes for 721 yards and 5 touchdowns. He had 30 total tackles on defense, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and 5 passes defended. He received the Paul Hornug award, given to the most versatile player in college football, and won a consensus All-American selection and a second-team All Pac-12 nomination.
Hunter played in 13 games for the Buffs in 2024. He had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns; he added 2 rushing attempts for 5 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he had 36 total tackles, a TFL, 4 interceptions, 11 passes defended, and a forced fumble. His performance earned him a unanimous All-American selection and a First-Team All-Big 12 nod. He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and won the Ronnie Lott Trophy, the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best wide receiver, the Bednarik Award for best defensive player, the AP College Football Player of the Year, the Walter Camp Award, and the Heisman Trophy.
The Jaguars traded their 5th, 36th and 126th overall picks in the 2025 Draft along with a 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns for their 2nd, 104th and 200th picks. Jacksonville then used the second pick to select Hunter.
“It’s a blessing,” Hunter said Sunday about the opportunity to play both ways in the NFL. “I’m very excited to be at a place that they let me go ahead and be myself and let me do what I do.”
