Liam Coen on Travis Hunter's usage: "He cares about winning"

Questions have persisted regarding whether the Jaguars are getting the most out of cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter, the second overall pick in the 2025 draft. Coach Liam Coen addressed the situation in simple terms on Friday.

“He cares about winning,” Coen said, “That’s what he cares about. Like, and all the other stuff, the reps, where we picked him, does that — I don’t give two Fs about value. And neither does he. We care about winning. And that’s it.”

That’s not what Hunter said in an August appearance on The Pivot podcast. He said he wants to play both sides of the ball, on a full-time basis.

“If I’m trying to be the best — how are you gonna be the best, if you ain’t trying to be the best?” Hunter said at the time. “If you ain’t trying to compete and do the best to be the best? So my main focus is be the best. So I’m gonna do everything I can do to be the best. I don’t want to be the best at one position. There’s a lot of people that’s the best at one position. Ain’t nobody yet been the best at both, full-time. . . .

“I cannot sit on the sideline. I don’t think nobody’s noticed that yet. I hate the sidelines. I do not wanna sit there. I can’t sit there and just watch football. I’ve got to be on the field.”

The fact that the Jaguars are winning makes it harder for Hunter to gripe about his usage, which is increasing on the defensive side of the ball but which continues to be cameo appearances, at best, on offense. But he’s on the record with his wishes.

And, yes, it’s fair to ask about value. Especially given the glowing remarks G.M. James Gladstone made after the Jaguars traded up from No. 5 to No. 2 to get him.

“This is something I’m uniquely positioned to navigate,” Gladstone said in April 2025. “We ended up bringing Travis Hunter to Jacksonville, and with that, he is somebody who is deserving of a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver, and he is worthy of a first-round draft pick as a corner. Certainly, look forward to each of those elements showing themselves over the next few years while he is under his rookie contract.”

While the Jaguars have emerged as an elite team, the stated vision for Hunter has yet to come to fruition. And it seems that no one wants that to happen more than him.