NFL insider explains how Travis Hunter's impact on Jaguars goes beyond production

USA Today

a day ago

One NFL insider explained how Travis Hunter's impact on the Jaguars goes beyond the stat sheet with how opponents have to prepare for him.
Travis Hunter's ball skills and ability to operate in space make him a big-play threat on both sides of the ball for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, his impact on this Jaguars team could go beyond just the stat sheet.
Filling in on the 'Rich Eisen Show,' NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero discussed how having Travis Hunter on the team can give the Jaguars a potential game planning advantage.
"I do think one of the unique things they can create with Travis Hunter here is questions in the game planning process for the opponent," Pelissero said. "It's one thing if New England back in the day, every week they'd come out with a different defense. They might be playing an under-front one week, the next week they're playing an over-front. They might play in a 4-3 the whole season and then come out they play a 3-4 in the Super Bowl.
Pelissero continued, "With Travis Hunter, who is arguably the most important player on both sides of the ball, you can play him all offense one week, and all defense the next week. And if an opponent gears their entire game plan, 'we're going to take away Travis Hunter on offense,' but then you just go, 'we're going to have Travis lock down the opponent's new receiver and not play a lot of offense,' that introduces something completely different."
Pelissero went on to say that he doesn't know if Hunter's snap count totals between offense and defense will be equal from week to week.
When Tony Khan was on the 'Rich Eisen Show' during the offseason and was asked about Hunter's playing time, he mentioned that "game flow" could dictate how many snaps Hunter sees on each side of the ball. The opponent and matchups will be a part of that equation as well.
So, for an opponent, there is likely some level of guesswork that will come when facing the Jaguars. They could be preparing their receivers to face Hunter, only for Jarrian Jones or Montaric Brown to see the bulk of the cornerback snaps opposite of Tyson Campbell.
Or on offense, perhaps there is a week where Parker Washington sees extending snaps.
This element won't be the be-all and end-all when it comes to determining wins and losses, but it's another part of the calculus that opponents have to factor in--where will Travis Hunter be lining up?
GM James Gladstone spoke with ESPN's Dan Graziano recently and said that drafting a player like Hunter "changes the math." Gladstone didn't get into specifics on what he meant by that, but the production aside, his presence provides the Jaguars with added flexibility and opponents with something else to account for.