JACKSONVILLE – The subject of this story may not belong in the story.
That's because this story about the secondary and the 2025 NFL Draft focuses on Travis Hunter, who is the best cornerback in the draft – and who may or may not play the position full-time in the NFL.
The draft's best secondary player is that good at another position.
"He's an amazing player," ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said.
Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Colorado, is considered by many the best overall player in the ’25 draft. That he isn't widely projected No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans is more about that franchise's quarterback situation than Hunter's ability.
That ability extends beyond cornerback. He also is projected by many as the draft's best wide receiver – and he may primarily play that position in the NFL. Hunter caught 96 passes last season for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions defensively.
"It's almost impossible to do and he did it at a very high level," Kiper said of Hunter's two-way production. "His football IQ is unbelievable. His hand-eye coordination and ball skills are the best I've ever seen. As a wide receiver, I think he can be special. As a cornerback, he's outstanding.
"Let him figure out where he's best and then sprinkle him in on the other side of the ball. Playing both ways isn't going to happen. You have to have a focus on one position."
NFL and Jaguars Media Analyst Bucky Brooks said the cornerback position after Hunter mirrors the entire '25 draft class, with multiple projected starters who can contribute quickly – but perhaps not many stars.
"This class is a lot of B-plus, A-minus more than the A-plus – so we have to temper our early expectations in terms of what they're going to be like," Brooks said. "The top corners [after Hunter] are solid starters."
Other top corners include nickels Jahdae Barron of Texas and Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky, with top level outside corners such as Will Johnson of Michigan, Benjamin Morrison of Notre Dame and Shavon Revel Jr. of East Carolina having had collegiate injury issues.
"The sweet spot for corners: Bottom of the first round, top of the second," Brooks said. "That's where you do it."
Johnson was projected as a Top 5 player early in the pre-draft process but is more often now projected just outside the Top 10.
"He came into the year as a bona-fide top five pick," ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid said. "He didn't have the year a lot of people thought he was going to have – whether it was injury, a little slip in his production, then just his own play. He's a very good player. He has ability to play press man, he could play off man, he could play zone. There are so many different things he can do."
The draft's top safeties – Nick Emmanwori of South Carolina and Malaki Starks of Georgia – could be selected in Round 1, with other top safeties considered second- and third-round selections.
"There's a lot of dept in the second and third round," Reid said of the safety position. "Safety is always a touchy subject because there are some guys that don't go in the first round and everybody wonders why – or there are some guys who do go in the first round and end up being worth it. It's different for every team, as far as how you value those guys."
HANDICAPPING THE JAGUARS
- Secondary likely will be a focus for the Jaguars in the draft, although that focus may take place on Days Two and Three rather than Day One. While the Jaguars return projected starting cornerback Tyson Campbell, and while they signed projected starting safety Eric Murray and projected starting nickel Jourdan Lewis, the other safety and cornerback positions feel far more fluid – and drafted rookies could compete for starting positions in 2025. Second-year cornerback Jarrian Jones, veteran defensive back Darnell Savage and veteran cornerback Montaric Brown are experienced contributors – and safety Antonio Johnson has flashed impressive athleticism. Those four players could compete with drafted players to help form the secondary rotation in 2025.
CHANCE JAGUARS TAKE A CORNERBACK IN ROUND ONE
- Possible.
CHANCE JAGUARS TAKE A SAFETY IN ROUND ONE
- Minimal.
CORNERBACKS ON THE JAGUARS ROSTER
- Tyson Campbell
- Jourdan Lewis
- Montaric Brown
- Jarrian Jones
- Christian Braswell
- Zech McPhearson
- De'Antre Prince
SAFETIES ON THE JAGUARS ROSTER
- Eric Murray
- Andrew Wingard
- Darnell Savage
- Antonio Johnson
- Daniel Thomas
BUCKY BROOKS' TOP 5 2025 CORNERBACKS
- Travis Hunter, Colorado
- Will Johnson, Michigan
- Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
- Trey Amos, Mississippi
- Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
POSSIBLE FIRST-ROUND CORNERBACKS
- Travis Hunter
- Trey Amos
- Shavon Revel Jr.
- Benjamin Morrison
BUCKY BROOKS' TOP 5 2025 NICKELBACKS
- Jahdae Barron, Texas
- Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
- Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
- Quincy Riley, Louisville
- Alijah Huzzle, North Carolina
POSSIBLE FIRST-ROUND NICKELBACKS
- Jahdae Barron
- Maxwell Hairston
BUCKY BROOKS' TOP 5 2025 SAFETIES
- Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
- Malaki Starks, Georgia
- Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
- Jaylen Reed, Penn State
- Sebastian Castro, Iowa
POSSIBLE FIRST-ROUND SAFETIES
- Malaki Starks
- Nick Emmanwori
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Building the fundamentals. 👀 Both the offensive and defensive playmakers are putting in work at the Miller Electric Center a week before the 2025 NFL Draft. 🔥👣 Swipe through some top shots below.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Chad Muma during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Darnell Savage during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars players participate in voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars players participate in voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars players participate in voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Austin Trammell during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars players participate in voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offense during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars strength and conditioning staff during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 15, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby during voluntary offseason workouts at the Miller Electric Center on April 17, 2025.
