While there’s plenty of excitement surrounding the rookie season of Travis Hunter , opposing teams will certainly be chomping at the bit to make the Jaguars ’ No. 2 overall pick feel unwelcome.

Hunter is expected to play on both offense and defense, like he did in college.

While the Jaguars’ defense is rebuilding, Hunter will be paired on offense with Brian Thomas Jr., forming one of the most dynamic wide receiver duos in the NFL.

Hunter should bolster Jaguars defense

In 2024, the Jaguars were last in the AFC in total defense, allowing 389.9 yards per game.

The Jaguars surrendered 25.6 points a game. Only three NFL teams were worse.

They also were dead-last in the NFL in pass defense.

Hunter will be one part of a defense that saw a lot of movement in the offseason.

Two veterans, safety Eric Murray and cornerback Jourdan Lewis were added in the offseason. Ronald Darby was cut after a disappointing 2024.

Jaguars' biggest defensive challenges

Hunter is expected to make an immediate impact on offense. Throwing to him and Thomas will be quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who returns from offseason non-throwing shoulder surgery.

The Jaguars were 25th in the league in yards per game at 306.2. They were 24th in passing yards per game at 204.5. And they were 26th in the league in points per game at 18.8.

They’ll face some of the toughest defense in the NFL in 2025. Here is a ranking of the 14 defenses Hunter, Lawrence, Thomas and company will face in 2025.

14. Carolina Panthers Week 1, Sept. 7, 1 p.m.

If the Jaguars are going to find their offensive footing during Week 1, they’ve got the right opponent in Carolina. The Panthers were the only team in the NFL in 2024 to allow more than 30 points per game. Hunter and Thomas could have their way against Carolina’s defense. The Panthers signed safety Tre'von Moehrig in free agency this offseason in hopes of improving their secondary. They also re-signed Jaycee Horn, who had just one interception in 15 games last year for the Panthers.

13. Indianapolis Colts , Weeks 14 and 17, Dec. 7 and 28, both 1 p.m.

Here’s how bad the Colts’ defense was in 2024: They ranked 29th in the NFL in total defense, 26th against the pass, 24th against the run and 24th in scoring defense. The Colts tried to address their pass defense woes by signing cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Camryn Bynum. Maybe it will help?

12. Las Vegas Raiders , Week 9, Nov. 2, 4:05 p.m.

The Raiders were 26th in scoring defense in 2024. With starting cornerbacks such as Jakorian Bennett and Eric Stokes, they don’t quite strike fear in the hearts of their opponents.

11. Cincinnati Bengals , Week 2, Sept. 14, 1 p.m.

You know a defense is bad when it gives up more points than Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can score. The team fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden (yes, the former Miami Hurricanes head coach). The Bengals’ secondary returns DJ Turner II and Cam Taylor-Britt, among others, which are average on a good day.

10. New York Jets , Week 15, Dec. 14, 1 p.m.

The Jets’ new head coach has a defensive background. That’s a good thing given how porous the defense was last year. Sauce Gardner took a step back in 2024, but even if he’s at his best, he can’t cover two star wide receivers. The Jaguars might throw a lot to the other side, where free agent signee Brandon Stephens can be found. Also roaming around at free safety is former Jag Andre Cisco, who would love to get a pick or two against the team that chose not to keep him.

9. Arizona Cardinals , Week 12, Nov. 23, 4:05 p.m.

The Cardinals made a free agency splash, signing edge-rusher Josh Sweat. However, they didn’t do much to improve their secondary. They could rely quite a bit on two cornerbacks they drafted in April, Will Johnson of Michigan and Denzel Burke of Ohio State. A Wolverine and a Buckeye working together for a common cause. Weird.

8. Los Angeles Rams , Week 7, Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m.

The Rams have a strong front seven, but their secondary is their weakness. Darious Williams, who played two years for the Jags, returned to the Rams last year to mediocre results. On the other side, Ahkello Witherspoon isn’t a world beater. You can bet new Jags GM James Gladstone would love to put up bigtime points on his former team in London.

7. Tennessee Titans , Weeks 13 and 18, Nov. 30 and Jan. 4, 1 p.m. and TBD

The Titans are a tale of two defenses: they ranked second in both total defense and pass defense in 2024, but they gave up more than 133 yards per game on the ground. No team in the AFC surrendered more points per game than the 27.1 they allowed. This might not be a great Fantasy Football matchup for Hunter or Thomas. This might be a good day to start Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby.

6. San Francisco 49ers , Week 4, Sept. 28, 4:05 p.m.

Injuries marred the 49ers’ defense in 2024. Then, this offseason, they lost cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga to free agency. They signed corner Tre Brown from Seattle and return Renardo Green. Is that enough to stop Hunter and Thomas? Rob Saleh hopes so. He returns as defensive coordinator after a four-year absence, and he’s looking to stop the bleeding in the Bay.

5. Los Angeles Chargers , Week 11, Nov. 16, 1 p.m.

The Chargers allowed fewer points per game than any other in 2024, at 17.7 points. A big part of that was their impressive edge rushers. As far as their secondary, they lost Asante Samuel Jr. but signed veteran Donte Jackson from Pittsburgh. They also have the talented Derwin James roaming around at strong safety. This should be a top 10 defense in the league.

4. Seattle Seahawks , Week 6, Oct. 12, 1 p.m.

There’s a lot of hope in Seattle in 2025 for the secondary. Rookie Nick Emmanwori and Julian Love for ma highly-regarded safety duo. And their corner trio of Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe form a highly-rated unit. It will be fun to see what they can do against the speed and athleticism of Hunter and Thomas.

3. Kansas City Chiefs , Week 5, Oct. 6, 8:15 p.m.

The Chiefs were ninth in total defense and fourth in points allowed in 2024. Cornerback Trent McDuffie is the bedrock of the secondary. Kristian Fulton is seen as an upgrade at cornerback for the departed Joshua Williams, while Mike Edwards was brought in at safety to replace Justin Reid. They also drafted cornerback Nohl Williams of Cal in the third round. With defensive genius Steve Spagnuolo running the show, this team should keep Patrick Mahomes in almost every game.

2. Houston Texans , Weeks 3 and 10, Sept. 21 and Nov. 9, both 1 p.m.

The Houston Texans were ranked in the top-11 in total defense, pass defense and run defense in 2024. They were fifth in takeaways and fourth in sacks with 49. They also feature a person who has become a villain in Duuu-val, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, whose late hit last year concussed Trevor Lawrence. The Texans brought in Super Bowl champion safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who joins the talented cornerback unit of Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr., as well as safety Jalen Pitre. It could spell more trouble in the AFC South.

1. Denver Broncos , Week 16, Dec. 21, 4:05 p.m.

The Broncos are expected by many to be No. 1 defense in the NFL. Last season, Denver was seventh in total defense and third in scoring defense. Aside from the fact Denver had a league-leading 63 sacks last year, they also have the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Surtain will be paired with rookie first-rounder Jahdae Barron, who was widely regarded as the second best cornerback in the draft — second to Hunter. Add to that safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, and this defense could be scary.