How the Jaguars could pay Travis Hunter like two players in one

Travis Hunter is determined to keep the dual role he had in college football as he enters his first NFL season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. At Colorado, Hunter excelled as both a wide receiver and a cornerback - none more than the other, and his efforts earned him the Heisman in his final season.

The Jaguars have honored his wishes and plan to utilize him on both offense and defense as well, an unprecedented approach that could complicate his contract, especially in regards to performance-based pay, contract incentives, and franchise tag designations.

How Travis Hunter could reshape pay for two-way players

While the NFL has seen some two-way players before, they’re typically either both on offense or both on defense, or the player sees significantly more snaps at one position than the other. In Hunter’s case, he’s expected to see significant snaps on both sides of the ball. And the NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has specific rules that aren’t made for players like that.

At the moment, the NFL rewards players based on snap counts and salary (Performance-Based Pay system/PBP). The CBA’s current formula factors in all eligible snaps - on offense, defense, and special teams. So the fact that Hunter will be playing on both offense and defense will considerably increase his chances of earning one of the top performance bonuses - possibly $300K-$400K. And that’s in addition to his rookie salary. He’s not yet signed his contract with the Jags, but it’s projected to be a four-year contract worth around $46,571,074 and with a $30,509,874 signing bonus, according to Spotrac.

Hunter will be eligible for a second contract in 2028. If he meets a threshold of playing time on offense and defense, his contract could then include dual-role incentives that are not permitted under standard positional rules (like bonuses for both touchdowns and interceptions).

And as for his future earnings - they may be impacted by how he’s officially classified once he’s eligible for the fifth-year option or franchise tag. Wide receivers currently earn more than corners, and if that’s still the case, then Hunter would earn more or less depending on which side he sees more snaps. That will ultimately dictate his “label” as well as his salary floor.

So while Hunter can’t negotiate a new deal for at least three more years, his usage could very well influence future CBAs or contract structures. And his value as a two-way star might demand a hybrid pay model that pays him like two elite players in one.

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