Hours away from the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars have become the talk of the town. First, PacMan Jones said that they’ll try to trade Trevor Lawrence, but that’s highly unlikely, so his scoop was mostly received with a shrug. That said, a report from a legitimate source surfaced that the Jags will make a head-turning move on Day 1.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media said on Draft Eve that Jacksonville will make an effort to get a deal done with the Cleveland Browns to move up to No. 2 overall. And what player would they select with the pick they acquire? Two-way star Travis Hunter.
“I would put the spotlight on the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Rapoport said. “They are picking five overall. You listen to the mock drafts. See, Mason Graham, at some point, was sort of the popular pick for them at No. 5. Then, you start to hear other things. Maybe it’s going to be offense because they have Liam Cohen, an offensive coach. Maybe that’s Ashton Jeanty, maybe Tetairoa McMillan. Let me tell you a little bit of a curveball. My understanding is the Jaguars will not be timid. They are going to be bold.”
Rapoport continued, “They’re going to do, in a way, what James Gladstone’s mentor, I guess you would say, Les Snead, which is, be bold. Could the Jaguars try to move up from No. 5? I don’t know, let’s say No. 2. I know the Cleveland Browns have received some calls. Maybe they try at least from now till the beginning of the draft to make that leap. Maybe that’s for Travis Hunter. It would be bold. Will the Browns do it? We don’t know. Keep an eye on the Jaguars. You know the Homer Simpson meme where he kind of shrinks into the back sure the bushes, that’s not going to be them.”
Colleague James Palmer then argues that the Cleveland Browns won’t likely give up the No. 2 pick, especially if they’re setting their sights on Travis Hunter. That said, Jacksonville could make them a godfather kind of offer that would be too good to pass up, or at least make them think about the possibility of trading the selection.
As Rapoport noted, Cleveland has fielded calls about the No. 2 pick. Following his latest scoop, nobody will bat an eye if the Jaguars are one of the clubs that have made inquiries.
There’s a chance this is a smokescreen, but even if Jacksonville’s interest in the No. 2 selection is legitimate, it takes two to tango, and it’s not a given that the Browns will agree to a trade. Below is a clip where Rapoport talks about the scoop.
Ashton Jeanty would be great, but the Jaguars won’t pass on Travis Hunter if given the chance
If the Jacksonville Jaguars stay put at No. 5, running back Ashton Jeanty is the favorite to get the nod, but they probably won’t pass up the chance to trade up for Travis Hunter if the opportunity arises. But what would it take to persuade the Cleveland Browns? Thomas Valentine of Pro Football Focus came up with an intriguing proposal.
Valentine suggests Jacksonville give the Browns picks No. 5, 70, and 107 this year and a second-rounder in 2025 in exchange for the second overall. Basically, the Jags would be giving up second, third, and fourth-round picks in exchange for the chance to draft the 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist. Would it be expensive, you bet, but if he’s their guy, it would be worth it.
In Jacksonville, Hunter would round out a wide receiver corps that includes Dyami Brown, Brian Thomas Jr., and Parker Washington. He would be the cherry on the top in Trevor Lawrence’s arsenal of weapons.
On defense, Hunter could play a handful of snaps at cornerback early on and see an uptick in playing time once he grasps the nuances of the position. And that’s the thing, the Jaguars are one of the teams that could accommodate his request to play on both sides of the ball. In fact, his ability to make plays regardless of how he plays may be the reason why Jacksonville will try to trade up for him.
What appeared to be a pipedream just a month ago could turn out to be a realistic possiblity for a Jags team that is in dire need of game-changers.