Trevor Lawrence hasn't had the NFL career he hoped for after becoming the No. 1 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. The former Clemson superstar has had an up-and-down four years so far, but now he has a major weapon to add to the arsenal in Duval in 2025.
The Jaguars traded up to grab two-way superstar Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter is extremely talented and could project as a Pro Bowl talent on both offense and defense. Despite his immense talent, Hunter isn't taking anything for granted as he prepares for his rookie season.
Speaking with Jamal St. Cyr of WJXT4 in Jacksonville at the American Century Championship golf tournament on Friday, Lawrence raved about Hunter's work ethic.
"Travis has been great, just his work ethic, how he's come in," said Lawrence. "He's been one of the hardest-working guys we have. I think it's his commitment to learning the playbook and trying to learn the two systems. It's a lot on a rookie, it's challenging to learn everything, and he's done a nice job."
"I'm really excited for him and how he can help our team."
Lawrence's comments the best evidence yet of Hunter playing both ways with the Jaguars
What Hunter's role will be during his rookie season with the Jaguars remains to be seen. The expectation has been that he will get snaps on both sides of the ball, but he spent the bulk of his time in rookie mini-camp playing WR, but that was likely to just ease him into the new system.
But Lawrence stating Hunter is actively trying to learn two systems speaks to the fact that Hunter is preparing as if he is going to have a major role on both sides of the football. Plenty have doubted how he can hold up doing that in the NFL, but you can doubt Hunter at your own peril.
The Jaguars are desperate to win, and Hunter can be a game-changer on both sides of the ball. Jacksonville is coming off a disappointing 4-13 season, marred by an injury to Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars have only made the playoffs once in the last seven seasons.
They will want to express caution with Hunter as he is a long-term investment by the franchise, but there's no denying the Jaguars are in win-now mode with the aggressive trade they made to move up in the draft to acquire the former Colorado superstar.