Potential First-Time Pro Bowler Picked For Jaguars
· Yahoo Sports
The Jacksonville Jaguars are loaded with young, talented players who are ready to make a name for themselves in the NFL.
Second-year two-way phenom Travis Hunter is under a lot of pressure this season to prove he can become the superstar the Jaguars were counting on when they traded up to draft him second overall in 2025.
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Wide receiver Parker Washington exploded onto the scene last season and was Jacksonville's leading receiver. Hunter's season-ending injury and Brian Thomas Jr.'s struggles gave Washington the biggest opportunity of his career, and he made the most of it. Washington has been phenomenal throughout offseason practices and is expected to be even better this season as he awaits a life-changing contract extension.
Antonio Johnson, who wasn't even a starter at the beginning of the 2025 season, tied for second in the NFL with five interceptions and finished the year as PFF's highest-graded safety.
Running back Bhayshul Tuten, who is expected to lead the Jaguars' backfield this season, has game-breaking speed and the potential to become a star. Tuten dominated Wednesday's joint practice with the Carolina Panthers.
None of these Jaguars has ever been selected to the Pro Bowl. Could 2026 be the year where one them makes it for the first time?
Kevin Patra of NFL.com went through each AFC team and chose one player whom he believes could become a first-time Pro Bowler this season. For the Jaguars, Patra went with Hunter, whose ability to dominate a game on both offense and defense makes him one of the most special talents in the NFL.
Picking Hunter A "Layup"Patra admits he didn't exactly go out on a limb by choosing Hunter to make his first-ever Pro Bowl. His ability to be a top cornerback or a game-changing receiver (depending on how much he will play on offense) made him the obvious choice for Jacksonville.
"I’ll take the layup on this one. If the Jags are to repeat as AFC South champs, Travis Hunter will be a massive reason why. The dual-threat CB/WR was just coming into his own before injury cut short his rookie campaign. All signs indicate he’s picked up right where he left off. Hunter can step in as a No. 1 CB and owns the ability to make a slew of splash plays on offense -- even if he's not a full-time WR. The talent is there for Hunter to do something we haven’t seen in modern football."
He's right. We haven't seen a player like Hunter in a very long time. While Hunter may not play WR as much as he did as a rookie, he will likely still see enough time there to make an impact.
Final ThoughtsHunter needs to become either a shutdown corner or a game-breaking receiver to make his first Pro Bowl this season. He doesn't necessarily have to be both.
However, he is still determined to be a full-time two-way player, and has the talent to be a Pro Bowler at either spot.
Hunter is an extremely unique player who has the potential to become not only the face of the Jaguars, but one of the faces of the NFL. If he can stay healthy this season, it would not be a surprise to see him earn the first of what should be many Pro Bowl selections.