
Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter highest rated rookie in Madden 26
The Madden 2026 player ratings are being released, and the highest-rated rookie from the 2025 NFL draft class is the Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter.
Hunter's overall ranking is 84. His speed is a 93, change of direction is 96, and spectacular catch rating is 86.
Over the last few practices, Hunter has put together some impressive performances at both cornerback and wide receiver.
In his 21 snaps at cornerback on Sunday during the 11-on-11 periods, Hunter came away with three pass breakups, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.
On Tuesday at wide receiver, John Shipley of Jaguars on SI wrote that this was Hunter's "best practice yet on the offensive side of the ball." This included Hunter making several impressive grabs and "proving he can be a tough cover," as Shipley put it.
Hunter has spent four practices at receiver so far and two at cornerback. During the Jaguars' scrimmage on Friday, he will play both offense and defense that day, according to DiRocco.
Ultimately, that will be the norm for Hunter, but how things unfold during that mock game will play a role in determining what his practice schedule looks like moving forward.
"I think what will happen is where he's on offense (on Monday), he'll go back to defense before our mock game, scrimmage (on Friday) and we'll be able to use that mock as an evaluation to see what do we need to do now," Liam Coen said after Monday's practice. "What did it look like in the scrimmage? Do we need to get him more on defense or hey, these other guys are producing and developing and we can keep with the schedule as is. It'll be not a defining moment but an evaluation time for us."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
13 minutes ago
- USA Today
ESPN puts OKC Thunder in all-in tier to have extended championship window
Now that the NBA is in vacation mode, the next couple of months are the perfect time to reflect on the offseason and see how teams stand out ahead of the 2025-26 season. After bringing home a championship in style with a dominant year, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the popular pick to repeat. One way ESPN has done that is by publishing its yearly all-in tiers. ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Kevin Pelton categorized all 30 NBA teams into eight different all-in tiers that define what a successful season would look like. From championship aspirations to player development. For the Thunder, they were put into the "all-in on an extended championship window" group. Other members were the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic. The Thunder are the only team in that group that has already won the Larry O'Brien trophy with their current core. "There's no precedent for winning a championship and having up to six extra first-round picks coming, not to mention swaps that could dramatically improve Thunder picks likely to fall late in the round," ESPN wrote. "Now that Oklahoma City has extended MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, plus All-Star Jalen Williams and cornerstone Chet Holmgren, the luxury tax will be a challenge. But the Thunder might be less all-in than any team trying to repeat in modern NBA history." That's a pretty fair assessment. The Thunder are best set up to contend in the short-term and long-term future. That's the luxury you're afforded when you become the second-youngest NBA champion in league history. With their star trio signed to new deals, expect OKC to be in this tier for the foreseeable future. New ESPN story: Not every NBA team will enter this season with a realistic expectation of winning an NBA title. But, for all 30 of them, they will begin the year all-in on a @kpelton and I broke down what being 'all-in' for each of them means.


New York Post
13 minutes ago
- New York Post
Darius Slayton's first goal is winning — not Giants' record book
Access the Giants like never before Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers. tRY IT NOW The list of names Darius Slayton is expected to bump down the Giants' all-time record book this season includes former teammates, mentors and long-retired fan favorites. The journey upward could start in Week 1 because Slayton needs just 44 receiving yards — one moon ball from Russell Wilson — to surpass two-time Super Bowl winner Lionel Manuel. Next comes Sterling Shepard. And, if he flirts with 800 yards like usual, Slayton will jump over Jeremy Shockey, Victor Cruz, Ike Hilliard, Hakeem Nicks and others by season's end to move from No. 18 to No. 9, with a legit path to No. 2 behind Amani Toomer by the end of his new three-year contract. 'I have profound respect for all the names you just said — all the guys who were good players here before me,' Slayton, a 2019 fifth-round draft pick, said after Tuesday's walk-through. 'But somebody like Hakeem Nicks, Amani Toomer, Mario Manningham, Plaxico Burress — those types of guys — the envy I have for them is the fact that they won at the highest level. I'd much rather catch them in Super Bowl rings than I would in yardage.' Slayton, 28, quietly bypassed Burress and Ring of Honor member Mark Bavaro late last season in what looked like his final games as a Giant. Then he surprisingly re-signed in free agency for the second time and now it isn't crazy to think of him as a one-uniform legacy player. 'Ultimately, while it would be nice to be able to pass up people who were such good football players, that's not really my focus,' Slayton said. 'Even if I had the NFL record for yards through seven years in the NFL, it wouldn't change the fact of the games we've not been able to win in my time here. That's my primary focus.' Slayton's 3,897 career receiving yards — the seventh most in a draft class that includes fellow non-first-rounders and NFC East rivals A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel (in his first season with the Commanders) — have come during games in which the Giants are 30-61-1. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in all those losses. 3 Darius Slayton watches Giants training camp practice from the sidelines on Aug. 5, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post And Slayton, who always has been a front-facing voice to fans and media but never a co-captain, is taking a more active role in the locker room now that he is the longest-tenured member of the offense. 'From behind the scenes — and I'd say particularly this year — he's been vocal, sets the standard on how we should practice, and that's why we wanted him back,' head coach Brian Daboll said. 'I love coaching him, and I'm very impressed with how he's taken another step in his leadership, particularly the communication. There are times he has gotten up in front of the room and talked to the entire team and did one hell of a job. The most important thing, he knows, is playing well, but he's available, he practices, he's smart, he knows every position you could know on offense in terms of the skill guys. I'm glad we have him.' 3 Giants receiver Darius Slayton runs a route earlier in training camp. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The Giants didn't make any changes to their top four wideouts or top three tight ends despite ranking No. 28 in passing offense last season. Slayton didn't gripe last season when 170 targets went to rookie Malik Nabers and 140 went to Wan'Dale Robinson, compared to his 71. And he hasn't again as the target share remains imbalanced with Wilson. If Slayton's career has shown anything, however, it's that he always finds a way to be involved. Whether that was as a rookie stepping into the void left by Odell Beckham Jr. and catching Eli Manning's final touchdown pass, or in Daboll's first season when a slew of drops had him on the training camp chopping block. 'It hasn't always been easy for him,' Daboll said. 'He's had some rocky times and he's kind of always persevered. I know the first year I got here how it started out, and then he just kept on grinding and grinding and you have an appreciation for people like that who are able to weather storms and overcome things and then look pretty good coming out from the back side.' With bigger money — $12 million per year contract — comes bigger responsibility. 3 New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton speaking to the media after practice at the Giants training facility in East Rutherford, NJ. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post 'It's really been my fault,' Slayton said of his delayed turn in speaking up. 'I'm not a talker. I have a wealth of knowledge in my brain. This year, I've tried to be conscious about sharing that with the guys around me. I think it's been something that's been beneficial for our team. A lot of guys that I've shared things with have expressed appreciation. I've tried to come out of my shell this year more than I have in the past.' The record book won't show it, but there's value in that knowledge, too.


New York Post
13 minutes ago
- New York Post
Scott Hanson answers the question everyone wants to know as ESPN acquires rights to ‘RedZone'
Football fans, rejoice. Scott Hanson won't be going anywhere with the ESPN acquisition of NFL Network, which was made official in an announcement on Tuesday. The beloved 'NFL RedZone' host revealed on social media that he would remain in his role on the popular whip-around program that airs on Sundays, taking fans live to games where teams are about to reach the end zone. 'It's official. (& for those wondering: yes, I will still be hosting RedZone.),' Hanson wrote on X. 'Fired up for a great season! Optimistic about this new partnership! (& I get to call @AdamSchefter 'colleague' for the 2nd time in my career… nice bonus!)' NFL Network's Scott Hanson speaks on stage during the during the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 26, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images Hanson's news came after the NFL and ESPN announced an equity deal that brings control of several NFL television properties, which include NFL Network and 'RedZone,' under the Worldwide Leader. As part of the deal, the NFL will own a 10 percent stake in ESPN, and the league will license additional content over to the Disney-owned sports network. 'Today's announcement paves the way for the world's leading sports media brand and America's most popular sport to deliver an even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can,' Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement. 'Commissioner Goodell and the NFL have built outstanding media assets, and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth and value proposition of Disney's streaming ecosystem.' Scott Hanson reacts during round six of the 2024 NFL draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images While neither side disclosed the value of the ESPN stake that the NFL was getting, the Wall Street Journal reported that analysts estimated ESPN's valuation between $25 billion and $30 billion, putting the worth of that stake around $2.5 billion to $3 billion. 'Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,' NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. 'Whether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. 'The Network's sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.'