Dunfield--Friedl--Jackson conjecture for the discrete faithful representation

Let $K\subset S^3$ be a hyperbolic oriented knot, and let $\pi_K$ denote its knot group. Let $\alpha\colon \pi_K\to \operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})$ be a lift of the discrete and faithful representation. Dunfield--Friedl--Jackson conjecture. Then

$$\deg\bigl(\tau(K,\alpha)(t)\bigr)=2(2\operatorname{genus}(K)-1).$$

Furthermore, $K$ is fibered if and only if $\tau(K,\alpha)(t)$ is monic.

This conjecture would specify a single representation detecting both genus and fiberedness, replacing the existential representations in the known general theorems. The source refers to it as open.