The Jacksonville Jaguars are creating a buzz! Plus, they’ve moved up to the second overall pick in the NFL Draft to select transcendent two-way star Travis Hunter, regarded as the best player in this year’s draft class. This bold move is a clear signal of the team’s desire to protect their young quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It further bolsters the defense they are constructing.
Travis Hunter, a generational, versatile two-way prospect, established himself as an elite defender and receiver in his college days. His dynamic talent to play opposite fellow first-rounder Tyson Campbell on defense gives a huge additional boost to the Jaguars’ secondary. The franchise avoided a major blunder by not drafting a quarterback at No. 2 overall. They’ve already got Jaxson Dart, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in their quarterback room.
The Jaguars gave up two third-round picks to get Hunter. Analyst consensus graded this move B-, an impressive score for such a contentious move. Seth Walder, ESPN’S analytics writer, echoed Newman when he emphasized Hunter’s remarkable bend. Because of this, he has an almost unprecedentedly low bust risk among prospects. His dual-threat capability gives Nebraska one of the most versatile weapons on offense. He could even take snaps at receiver to help supplement Lawrence’s lack of protection.
Moreover, the Browns actually had Travis Hunter higher on their draft board, but chose to trade down in order to acquire additional picks. They selected Mason Graham at No. 5, a choice that may prove beneficial given their need for a star player. Graham is a good prospect, but he clearly falls short of the upside that Hunter carries. This underscores just how highly the Jaguars have drafted great players.
The Houston Texans traded down from No. 2 to No. 15, acquiring additional picks including Nos. 5, 36, 126, and a first-round selection in 2026. As a result, the Rams fell from No. 1 to No. 6. In that deal, they acquired picks Nos. 26 and 101. The Atlanta Falcons made waves by trading up from No. 8 to No. 3 to select James Pearce Jr., further complicating the competitive landscape of the draft.
The ramifications of these trades go beyond just losing a few players to their new rosters. The Jaguars could take their new, creative offensive game—and fierce electric, get-after-you defensive game—up another level with Hunter. Their hope is to help Lawrence exceed expectations. The hire of Hunter is a major step in the right direction to help the program find more consistent success in the seasons to come.
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