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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

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

2025 NFL Draft: 3 things to know about Bhayshul Tuten

Travis Register-Imagn Images

Get to know the Jaguars’ new additions from draft weekend with our ‘3 things to know’ series

With the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, it’s time to reflect on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did rookie GM James Gladstone deliver a masterclass, or has he just set the Jags back five years? Truth is, we probably won’t know that for some time. But we can get to know the newest members of the team a little bit better. In the flatest of our mini-series of deep dives, here are three things to know about Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech:

Journey to relevance​

Transfer Running Back Bhayshul Tuten Commits To Virginia Tech

Tuten had over 1,300 rushing yards for North Carolina A&T last season. That includes a 13-carrry, 113-yard performance against Duke.https://t.co/mtQVB60MG6 pic.twitter.com/JxlYU2PXUJ

— Tech Sideline (@TechSideline) January 14, 2023​

Bhayshul Tuten was selected 104th overall in April’s draft, a fitting reward for an impressive college career and a platform to begin a professional one. But the outlook for Tuten wasn’t always so optimistic. Despite an outstanding high school resume, he didn’t get the attention his performances deserved…

A star for Paulsboro High School in New Jersey, Tuten would become a multi-faceted weapon for the Red Raiders. Under the tutelage of legendary head coach Glenn Howard, he became one of the most productive running backs in the nation, finishing his career with 3,768 yards rushing and 77 touchdowns on 429 carries for an average of 8.8 yards per carry. Add to that his prowess as a receiver - 35 career receptions for 437 yards and seven touchdowns - and four touchdown returns on special teams, and you would think that Tuten would be in high demand as a recruit. Instead, he was deemed a zero-star recruit and received just one scholarship offer - from North Carolina A&T.

In two years with the Aggies, Tuten showed the whole of College Football what they had overlooked. After easing his way in as a freshman, Tuten went on to record 1,363 yards and 13 touchdowns on 208 carries in 2022 - the fifth-best single-season rushing performance in A&T history. He broke both the school and conference record for consecutive 100-yard games in a season, and earned All-Big South-first team and FCS third-team All-America honors.

Finally the FBS came calling. Tuten went to Blacksburg, Virginia and picked up where he left off in Greensboro, North Carolina - immediately becoming the starting running back for Virginia Tech. In two years with the Hokies, Tuten surpassed 2,000 rushing yards, added another 320 as a receiver, and amassed 29 touchdowns in total.

Any draft prospect who gets selected has earned it. But maybe, Bhayshul Tuten has earned it more than most.

Speed merchant​

He was the fastest RB at the NFL Combine.@HokiesFB RB Bhayshul Tuten is bringing his 4.32 speed to the @Jaguars ‍ pic.twitter.com/cdHOWFoVwW

— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2025​

Running backs that average 8.8 yards per carry at high school, and 6.0 yards per carry in college, tend to be quick. But there’s quick, and then there’s Bhayshul Tuten, who has rockets strapped to his cleats…

Ever since high school, Tuten has been hard to catch. As well as his exploits on the gridiron, he was dominating on the track too - and as a senior ran the eighth-fastest 60-meter time in South Jersey history, crossing the line in 7.03 seconds. Despite showing that speed on a weekly basis at college, it wasn’t until the NFL combine where Tuten really burst into the draft conversation, the running back posting a blazing 4.32 second forty yard dash. That seemed to be the cherry on top of an exciting draft profile for Jaguars GM James Gladstone, who didn’t wait long on Day 3 to give Tuten the call he’d been working towards since he first put on pads.

That forty time was the fastest of any running back at this year’s combine - and Tuten ranked fifth of all attending prospects. If you felt the Jags’ backfield needed an injection of speed this offseason, it got it.

Fertile NFL roots​

Bhayshul Tuten played at Paulsboro HS in New Jersey. He's the 8th 0-star pick, so far in #NFLDraft2025 https://t.co/Wc5d35BbCY

— High School Football America (@HSFBamerica) April 26, 2025​

As mentioned earlier. Bhayshul Tuten hails from Paulsboro, New Jersey. A small town of approximately 6,000 inhabitants, Paulsboro is probably best known as the site of Fort Billingsport, the first federal land purchase by the United States. Or maybe well remembered for its role as a crucial location during the Revolutionary War. And for a select few locals, they may tell you that it was where the 2004 movie ‘Jersey Girl’ starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez and Liv Tyler was filmed. Yeah, that one passed me by too…

Despite it’s tiny size and relative anonymity, Paulsboro does appear to be very good at one thing - producing NFL talent. Before Tuten, no less than SEVEN professional football players were born and raised in the borough that sits on the bank of the Delaware River. It began with cornerback Kevin Ross, who from 1984 spent 14 years in the league, notably with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he went to two Pro Bowls. Next up was Willie Lee ‘Flipper’ Anderson, a wide receiver who spent time with the Rams, Colts and Redskins before winning a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in 1997 - his final year as a pro.

Since those two leading lights, running back Isaac Redman (Pittsburgh Steelers), safety Anthony Scirrorro (three teams), defensive end Alex Silvestri (who won a ring with the New England Patriots in 2011) and linebacker Gerald Hodges (five teams) have all graced the league at various points. Another, offensive tackle Julién Davenport, is still officially active but without a team, having just finished his eighth NFL season with the Atlanta Falcons last year.

Paulsboro is a production line of football talent. Bhayshul Tuten hopes to be the next from there to make his mark.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2025/6/6/24444263/3-things-to-know-about-bhayshul-tuten