Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is embracing his identity as a unicorn as he aims to win both the NFL’s Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.
No player in league history has ever won both awards, and only a few players have ever been utilized on both sides of the ball.
Key Takeaways
- Hunter is listed fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year odds and second or third to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
- Jaguars head coach indicated that Hunter will spend more time playing on offense.
- Hunter’s shortest odds are to win Defensive ROTY at BetMGM.
The Jaguars traded with the Cleveland Browns up to the second pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Hunter, who is one of the most unique prospects in the sport’s history.
He played 1,356 snaps (669 defensive and 687 offensive; 84 percent of all available snaps), 434 more than any other FBS player during his final season at Colorado, which culminated in him winning the Heisman Trophy.
Despite skepticism, Hunter has repeatedly stated that he intends to play both ways full-time in the NFL. The Jags listed him as a starting receiver and second-string cornerback in their first unofficial depth chart, which was released on Monday.
Despite his insistence, many around the league aren’t convinced that he’s making the right decision.
"I don't even think it's possible to do, for real, not at a high level,” said Los Angeles Rams receiver Davante Adams. “That's just a lot of mileage, man. I'm not even concerned so much if he can do it over the course of a game or a season. It's more like, how long is his career going to be if he's playing that many snaps?”
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen indicated that Hunter will primarily play on offense, but will still have a role on defense.
“[He’ll play] 80 percent of [offensive] snaps or so,” Coen said during an interview on the Rich Eisen Show. “Defensively, you’ll look at trying to match that number as much as possible.”
Travis Hunter awards betting odds
| Odds | BetMGM | DraftKings | FanDuel | Caesars | ESPN BET | Hard Rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | +1,000 | +1,000 | +1,100 | +900 | +1,000 | +1,000 |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | +750 | +800 | +1,000 | +1,000 | +1,100 | +1,100 |
Hunter has excelled at all levels of football. He was the No. 1 recruit in his high school class and won college football’s highest individual honor just one year ago.
However, unlike in years past, his ability to play both ways won’t influence his pursuit of individual glory.
The NFL offers an Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year award as opposed to one catch-all honor for the most outstanding first-year player. That means that Hunter will not only have to play at an elite level on both sides to win both awards, but he'll have to get enough snaps on both sides to warrant a look from voters.
Travis Hunter betting markets take over
Most sportsbooks have Hunter fourth in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds. Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward, and Omarion Hampton have shorter odds.
Despite his coach suggesting that offense will be his priority, sportsbooks have him second or third in odds to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year behind Abdul Carter and Jalon Walker.
"(Hunter) has been a popular selection for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year. For Offensive, he is currently No. 2 in both tickets and money, only behind Ashton Jeanty,” said Joey Feazel, head of football at Caesars Sportsbook. "On the Defensive side, he is the leader in tickets written and third for money placed behind Mykel Williams and Abdul Carter.”
Hunter is drawing 8% of the betting handle at DraftKings in the offensive rookie market and 12% of the handle for the defensive award.
At FanDuel, Hunter is the second-most bet player to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. He's the sixth-most bet player on the offensive side.
FanDuel has posted a series of special betting markets just for Hunter. Options include:
- Travis Hunter to record 1000+ regular season receiving yards: +230
- Travis Hunter to record 75+ regular season receptions & 2+ interceptions: +250
- Travis Hunter to score 10+ touchdowns (offense and defense): +700
- Travis Hunter to record 5+ regular season offensive touchdowns and 1+ regular season defensive touchdown: +1,200
- Travis Hunter to score 1+ touchdown and record 1+ interception in season debut: +1,600
- Travis Hunter to record 750+ receiving yards and 5+ interceptions: +1,700
