It’s official.
Travis Hunter is a Jacksonville Jaguar. The two-way star has signed his rookie contract. The Jaguars announced the deal twice on Sunday — with one post saying they had signed DB Travis Hunter and another saying they had signed WR Travis Hunter.
Only certain details of the contract were negotiable. Per the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, rookie contract values are predetermined based on draft slot. As the No. 2 pick in April’s draft, Hunter is due $46.65 million that is fully guaranteed over four years. The Jaguars will have a fifth-year option.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hunter will receive his entire $30.57 million signing bonus up front. According to the report, Hunter is the first non-quarterback who wasn’t drafted first overall to negotiate payment of his entire signing bonus at the front end of his contract.
There was little doubt the contract would be signed. But Hunter’s signature ends a delay in getting a deal done that extended through OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Now the specter of a holdout has been removed ahead of Jaguars training camp, which starts on July 19 when Hunter and his fellow rookies are due to report.
(Logan Bowles via Getty Images)
Big investment comes with high stakes
The previous lack of a deal did not stop Hunter from taking part in offseason practice sessions. Hunter was a participant in OTAs and in minicamp, critical sessions for rookies to get acclimated to the NFL and their new teammates.
The Jaguars invested heavily to acquire Hunter near the top of April’s draft, with hopes the Heisman Trophy winner can turn the franchise’s fortunes around after they missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
The Jaguars traded up from the fifth pick with the Cleveland Browns for the No. 2 selection they used to draft Hunter. In addition to the No. 5 pick, they parted with their first round-selection in 2026 and a second-round pick in April in the deal to secure Hunter. The Browns used the second-round pick from Jacksonville to select Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins.
How will the Jaguars use Travis Hunter?
A prospect with All-Pro upside at wide receiver and cornerback, it’s not yet clear just how the Jaguars will deploy Hunter. But he’ll almost certainly get significant run at wide receiver as the Jaguars look to capitalize on the upside of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 draft.
Lawrence made a Pro Bowl in his second season, but has largely failed to deliver on his predraft hype as a can’t-miss quarterback prospect and franchise savior. Jacksonville made the playoffs in 2022 but has finished 9-8 and 4-13 in subsequent seasons that didn’t result in a postseason berth. Lawrence didn’t make the Pro Bowl in either season.
With Hunter’s talents at his disposal, pressure will be further increased on Lawrence to deliver in his fifth NFL season and return Jacksonville to postseason contention.
