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The 2025 NFL Draft kicked off with a whirlwind first round, setting the stage for an electrifying shake-up in Jacksonville. Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner and arguably the top talent in this draft class, landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 2 overall pick. The Jaguars pulled off a blockbuster trade, sending their 2026 first-round pick along with other selections to move up from No. 5 and secure Hunter. Had the Tennessee Titans not selected quarterback Cam Ward at No. 1 due to pressing needs, Hunter could have been the top pick. His selection makes him the eighth Heisman winner in the last decade to go in the top 10, a trend that includes last year's No. 2 pick, Jayden Daniels, now the NFL Rookie of the Year.
For the Jaguars, a franchise mired in mediocrity with just eight playoff appearances in 30 seasons, Hunter represents a high-stakes investment to arm quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the 2021 No. 1 pick, with the tools to compete in the tough AFC South.
Hunter's Hunch: Sensing the Jaguars' Bold Play
Hunter's journey to Jacksonville took a fascinating turn when he made a surprising revelation during an interview with Kay Adams shortly after being drafted. The two-way star itted that he wasn't shocked by the Jaguars' decision to trade up for him, confessing that he spent the night before the draft looking at homes in Jacksonville on Zillow. "I just had a feeling that Jacksonville was going to try to get me," Hunter told Adams, suggesting he might have gotten a heads up from the team.
The Jaguars' trade with the Cleveland Browns - swapping picks 5, 36 and 126 and next year's first-rounder for picks 2, 104 and 200 - caught many by surprise. Most mock drafts pegged Hunter as a lock for the Browns at No. 2, with teams like the Giants and Patriots lurking if he slipped. Always projected as a top-three talent, Hunter's move from the crisp mountain air of Colorado to the humid tropics of Jacksonville only became a reality in the final days of the draft, when the Jaguars decided to roll the dice on the 2024 Heisman champ.
A Two-Way Threat to Transform the Jaguars
Hunter's arrival couldn't come at a better time for a Jaguars team desperate to shake off its losing ways. Coming off a dismal 4-13 season that saw coach Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke shown the door, Jacksonville has new blood at the helm in head coach Liam Coen and 34-year-old general manager James Gladstone. Both are young, ambitious, and unafraid to make big moves - as evidenced by their aggressive pursuit of the draft's top prospects. While some expected the Jags to grab Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty at No. 5 to bolster the offense, Hunter offers a rare dual-threat upside.
Able to excel at both wide receiver and cornerback, he strengthens both sides of the ball. Pair him with rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr., who torched defenses leading all rookies for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and Trevor Lawrence suddenly has a dynamic duo that could turn close games into blowouts. Hunter's versatility could be just the spark Jacksonville needs to climb out of the AFC South cellar.