Jags Walk Back the Hunter Experiment

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero joined the show to unpack two stories sitting on top of AFC South inboxes. The Jaguars walking back the two-way experiment with Travis Hunter, and the Texans' extension timeline for Will Anderson Jr. and CJ Stroud.

On Hunter, Pelissero pushed back on the framing. The Jaguars didn't trade up and give up two first-round picks to abandon the two-way vision. They did it because Hunter's value as both a top corner and a top receiver justified the price. What shifted is injury reality. Hunter suffered an injury in practice last year, and you have to wonder whether the load of dual-side reps contributed. There was no blueprint for the way he was being practiced. Pelissero wasn't blaming the Jaguars. This is uncharted territory.

The historical comp is thin. Pelissero pointed back to Deion Sanders in 1995, who caught passes as a third receiver and was still an All-Pro corner. Deion is the exception because Deion is one of the greatest athletes in any sport, across multiple sports. Travis Hunter is a really good athlete, but 140 NFL snaps a game was never realistic. Pelissero's prediction is baby steps. Train him predominantly on one side. He'll still see action on both. Build him up gradually. The last thing the Jaguars want is a guy hurt two years in a row.

Rich pivoted to Houston. What's the plan on extensions for Will Anderson Jr. and CJ Stroud, the two players Houston gave fifth-year options?

Pelissero led with Anderson. The price for elite pass rushers only goes up, and Anderson isn't just a top young rusher. He's a locker room guy. Grounded, humble, community-involved. Everything Houston wants a Texan to be. There's a price on that, and it starts with a four. The sooner Houston gets it done, the more they stay ahead of the market for the other guys coming up. Anderson is not taking a Travon Walker deal at 27 and a half million. This is going to be a Micah Parsons tier. The exact number is the only question.

On Stroud, Pelissero was more measured. The backup work last year did not go well. Even taking snaps looked rough. But Stroud has been to the playoffs three times and won a playoff game three times. Pelissero said it would not surprise him, and would not necessarily upset Stroud, if Houston plays out the fourth year. Teams have extended quarterbacks early and regretted it. There's a reason the Dolphins are paying Tua Tagovailoa 53 million to not play for them in 2026. Stroud has already accomplished more than Tua did in Miami, but based on how last season ended, paying him now at Dak Prescott's 60 million or a projected Lamar Jackson 70 million number is a hard commitment.

Stroud's agent David Mulugheta is experienced and won't take a cut-rate deal just to get paid. There's a team-friendly version that could happen. More likely, Stroud plays it out, and Houston evaluates the full program before making the top-shelf call the numbers otherwise suggest he deserves.