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Jaguars head coach Liam Coen needs to see more from Travis Hunter before staking strong claim

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated May 13, 2025 6:33 PM ET

Despite being taken second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Travis Hunter may have been the only actual generational type of player in the draft. And the Jacksonville Jaguars got him. They traded up with the Cleveland Browns to make sure they got their guy.

But, just because a player is labeled a generational talent, in Hunter's case he plays both ways at a very high level, doesn't mean that they are generational. The tag comes from media and fans based on what he did at the college level, not what he has done in the NFL.

The talent level, skill level, athleticism, and anything else you can think of is a major step up when you're talking about the differences between college and NFL, and we have seen thousands of players not able to make the jump.

With rookie minicamp this last weekend, the coaches and media had a chance to get their eyes on Hunter around other NFL-caliber players, doing the things NFL players do. But, rookie minicamp isn't enough to see if he's going to be as good as we all think he is.

“I would assume. He ran a route yesterday where his shoe came off, and it didn’t quite affect him. Made a great catch. It’s more just his presence and the energy he does provide both in the classroom, in the meeting rooms, and also out here on the field. Really hard to tell in this kind of setting, though," head coach Liam Coen told reporters during rookie minicamp when asked if Travis Hunter is as advertised.

What Coen is saying sounds a whole lot like coaches speak, but I'm sure that Hunter certainly looks the part so far. The biggest thing with Hunter will be getting him fully established on one side first. He needs to get one side down first before all of us get worrying about him looking the part as a two way player.

Even though Coen isn't willing to stake a claim on Hunter yet, it's obvious that the entire franchise is super confident in what he's able to do as a football player in the NFL, even if that means he doesn't end up being a two way player for the rest of his career. He's good enough on both sides of the ball to have been take second overall as either a cornerback or a wide receiver.

But, rookie minicamp isn't enough to say that he's going to be a sure-fire Hall of Famer or even a superstar. Time will tell, and the season will be here before we know it. In the AFC South, against the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars will need Hunter to be an impactful player in 2025.

The rest will take care of itself as his career goes on.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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