The 2025 NFL Draft has begun, and we already saw a trade happen as the Jacksonville Jaguars traded to No. 2 overall to select two-way superstar Travis Hunter. However, it came as a bit of a surprise to the Heisman Trophy winner as he said he never had a conversation with the team ahead of Thursday’s draft outside of one meeting.
Travis Hunter Admits To Not Talking to Jaguars Since the Combine
“The crazy part is I had no conversations with them outside of the Combine.”
Well, it seems that the one conversation was all that new Jaguars general manager James Gladstone needed to get enough conviction to make the selection.
Last season for the Colorado Buffaloes, Hunter finished with 96 receptions for 1,258 yards (13.1 yards per catch) and 15 touchdown receptions as a wide receiver and 36 total tackles (25 solo, 11 assisted) with four interceptions, one forced fumble, and 11 pass deflections as a cornerback.
One of the reasons Hunter is so unique on the football field is the fact that he can play offense and defense at a premier level.
In an interview with CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, Hunter expressed that he would not play for any team that attempts to restrict him from playing both sides of the ball.
“It’s never playing football again, because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
Now, Hunter has a chance to be a star in the AFC South with Trevor Lawrence throwing him the football. The NFL is technically a slower game than college football in terms of between plays. During the 2024 NFL season, there were 35.5 seconds on average between snaps, whereas in the FBS, that number was 31.8 seconds, per TruMedia.
According to PFSN, the Jaguars were 18th last season with a 72.8 Offensive+ grade and a putrid 31st with only a 62.7 Defensive+ grade. Now, with one pick, the team has been able to improve on both sides of the ball.
The trade for the Jaguars to be able to select Hunter saw them trade away their 2025 first-round pick (No. 5), second-round pick (No. 6), fourth-round pick (No. 126), and their 2026 first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 2025 first-round pick (No. 2), fourth-round pick (No. 104), and sixth-round pick (No. 200).
Time will tell who wins this draft-day trade, but it’s clear that Jacksonville has got the guy they were targeting in the shadows.