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[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Travis Hunter’s true position to impact future contracts

Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images

Snap counts and CBA wording could be the difference in millions for Travis Hunter down the line.

Is Travis Hunter a wide receiver or a cornerback? In a few years, his contract will tell us.

Since making possibly the biggest splash of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been working unicorn athlete Travis Hunter as mostly a wide receiver, after the former Heisman trophy winner famously played both receiver and cornerback at Colorado.

The Jags do still plan to play Hunter on both sides of the football, which is something ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano analyzed when it comes to future contract details for Hunter.

At current, Hunter is making over $46.6 million on his rookie four-year deal with a fifth-year option. That salary is based on him being a somewhat “regular” football player, which everyone knows he is not.

So, Graziano dug into the nitty gritty of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement to see how Hunter’s two-way play will impact the Jaguars’ front office when his rookie deal runs up.

For starters, Hunter will benefit financially by playing both sides of the ball through the performance-based pay scale. Last season, NFL teams were given a little over $14 million to dish out for players based on a predetermined scale. The scale is determined…

“by (i) adding the player’s total plays on offense or defense, as appropriate, plus special teams and (ii) dividing that number by the total plays of the player on the team’s roster with the most combined plays on offense, defense and special teams for that Club.”

Graziano smartly points out that the language above uses “offense OR defense.” Since no one has really had a player like Hunter that is anticipated to play big-time snaps on both sides of the ball, there has never been a need to discuss the scale using “and” language, until now.

Hunter will reap the rewards of playing both sides, and any special teams if applicable, and will likely be compensated very well upon the close of his rookie year with a PBP payout based on his snap count. Graziano predicts that with the growing PBP pool combined with Hunter’s contract numbers, he could be in line for a payout of around $400,000 next year. A drop in the bucket for sure, but more than enough to keep gas in Hunter’s fishing boat for the offseason.

The next step the Jags will have to figure out with Hunter is a potential fifth-year option if they don’t negotiate a new contract beforehand. That option must be picked up upon the close of a player’s third year, so in May of 2028 for Hunter. This is also not to mention any potential franchise tag shenanigans the Jags could get in with Hunter.

If Hunter were to have his fifth-year option picked up last season, he would have stood to make over $3 million more if he were paid like a wide receiver, at almost $24 million.

The CBA does have language for this and Hunter will be optioned or tagged based on what position he plays the most snaps in, which at this point seems to be at receiver. Assuming wide receivers continue to get paid like they do, Hunter will benefit again from the CBA as he will almost certainly get the higher of the two deals based on the wide receiver market.

The final individualized step for Hunter to maximize his earnings is with wording in any potential new contract based on incentives.

The CBA does have very strong wording on this…

“Any player whose primary position is on offense cannot have an incentive bonus that depends on team performance on defense (or special teams), unless such player played in 15% or more of the Club’s defensive (or special teams) in the prior season (pro rating participation in the event of games missed due to injury). Any player whose primary position is on defense cannot have an incentive bonus that depends on team performance on offense (or special teams), unless such player played in 15% or more of the Club’s offensive (or special teams) plays in the prior season (pro rating participation in the event of games missed due to injury).”

Essentially, the world is Hunter’s (and his agent’s) oyster as to how he can word potential bonuses. Graziano said Hunter could lump offensive and defensive bonuses into one or they could try and keep things more individualized. The Jags will have to agree to this of course, but it doesn’t seem like this front office would shy away from shelling out an extra million or two if Hunter can produce at high levels both ways.

There really is no blueprint at all for this. The Jags and their rookie superstar are in as uncharted waters as ever. Maybe Hunter mainly just plays offense and no one ever has to worry. Maybe he will become the greatest two-way athlete to ever exist.

One thing is for sure: Travis Hunter will get paid, one way or another.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2025/...ters-true-position-to-impact-future-contracts

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Report: Jaguars sign EDGE Dennis Gardeck, release RB Keilen Robinson

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

Update: Jacksonville also waived OL Cooper Hodges with a failed physical designation.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ new regime is continuing to bolster the defensive line unit — a proposterus notion if you ask the former general manager. According to Jordan Schultz, outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck is heading to Duval County.

Sources: The #Jaguars are signing former #Cardinals OLB Dennis Gardeck, who has 17 career sacks — including 9 over the past two seasons.

A former undrafted free agent out of Sioux Falls, Gardeck spent 7 seasons in Arizona and now heads to Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/Erjs5aFjgZ

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 4, 2025​

Gardeck, who will be 31 before Week 1, was undrafted out of Sioux Falls in 2018. He made the Arizona Cardinals’ roster by contributing on special teams, and he eventually contributed on defense after switching from inside to outside linebacker.

The Illinois native collected 17 sacks, 156 tackles (23 for a loss), and 7 pass deflections across seven seasons in the desert. Gardeck led the team in sacks last season before tearing his ACL (for a second time) in Week 7.

There may not be pluses for age, injury history, and draft pedigree in his profile, but Gardeck compensates for it by providing positional versatility and being an “intangibly rich” character — two trademark traits for Jacksonville’s new regime.

“Gardeck left his imprint with the Cardinals,” Darren Urban wrote for azcardinals.com.

Gardeck, like one-time teammate Haason Reddick, was a college pass rusher the Cardinals initially tried to make an inside linebacker. Like Reddick, they figured out Gardeck was better as a natural edge. He showed that again post-ACL by winning starting edge snaps for a third coach, after Jonathan Gannon was hired.

Even though he was limited in his defensive time, and ended up suffering a second ACL tear last season seven games into the season, Gardeck had 17 sacks in his seven-year Arizona stint, with 23 tackles for loss. He was a captain. He bonded with many in the building. He was ubiquitous in the community. He’d hit the strobe after taking down a quarterback, and won over the fanbase in the process.

In an assumingly corresponding move, the Jaguars released running back Keilan Robinson, according to Jeremy Fowler.

Th #Jaguars have released running back Keilan Robinson, per source. A fifth-round pick last year now set for waivers.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 4, 2025​

The former Longhorn was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to be Jacksonville’s secondary return man behind Devin Duvernay. Unfortunately, Robinson played in just six games as a rookie due to a toe injury. He recorded 2 kick returns for 34 yards.

Update: The Jaguars waived offensive lineman Cooper Hodges, according to the team.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed LB Dennis Gardeck, the team announced today. Additionally, the team has waived OL Cooper Hodges with a failed physical designation.

— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) June 4, 2025​

Hodges was drafted in the seventh round out of Appalachian State in 2023. He had a promising rookie minicamp (which included cartwheels) but missed his Year 1 campaign due to a dislocated kneecap. That unfortunate injury cost him the 2023 season, and he played 63 offensive snaps in 2024 before a lower leg injury placed him back on season-ending IR.

What are your thoughts on Jacksonville’s transactions? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2025/...is-gardeck-after-releasing-rb-keilen-robinson