Drafting Travis Hunter not enough to help Jaguars surge in NFL Power Rankings

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded up for Travis Hunter in the NFL draft because they think he's the kind of athlete who can alter the course of the franchise. However, he and the rest of their rookie class weren't enough to help them leave the cellar of the league in a recent power ranking.

The good news is that Eric Edholm of NFL Media has Jacksonville moving one spot in his post-draft power ranking. The bad news is that they went from the 30th spot to * check notes * the 29th, meaning that the Jags are still at the bottom of the league, at least in his eyes. His reasoning for giving them such a low place is that Hunter, as talented as he may be, won't be enough to make up for the many holes they have.

"Hunter was the biggest fish in a draft full of trout, and I get why the Jaguars so badly wanted to reel him in. Gladstone came from the Rams, where he saw how it can be worth breaking the bank for rare players. For a Jacksonville team that still feels like it has some holes to fill, however, the jury remains at loggerheads. Everyone wants to see what a Hunter-Brian Thomas Jr. pairing looks like, and if the duo will bring the best out of Trevor Lawrence. The Jags might not yet be relevant contenders, but they're must-see TV in a few capacities."

Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report was a bit kinder to the Jaguars in his post-draft ranking, but not much, putting them at No. 25. He thinks that general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen could eventually turn things around, but it's too early to tell whether they'll pull it off.

Both Coen and Gladstone were hired to replace Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke, respectively, after Jacksonville failed to make the playoffs each of the past two years. And while the duo has gone out of their way to turn things around, the Jags are still seen as a long shot to contend in 2025. Just recently, Jordan Reid of ESPN projected them to finish with one of the worst records in the NFL.

Why the Jaguars can (and will) exceed expectations in 2025?

The skepticism surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars is understandable. Their roster wasn't in great shape after 2024. Couple that with the fact that Liam Coen and James Gladstone lack experience at their respective positions, and it's easy to see why analysts don't think the Jags will surge next season. On the other hand, that could actually help them exceed expectations.

Sure, the Jags are basically starting from the bottom, but they have enough talent and depth to potentially make a playoff run. Trevor Lawrence should be back at full strength at some point in training camp after undergoing shoulder surgery last year. He has a revamped arsenal of weapons that includes the trio of Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr., and Dyami Brown. On top of that, the team's brass beefed up the offensive trenches, so his protection will be much better.

If that wasn't enough, the Jags will have a renewed emphasis on establishing the run. Under Coen, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from one of the worst teams running the football to one of the best. On the other hand, the front office revamped nearly every position, so Anthony Campbell's unit should also improve next season.

The bottom line is that the Jaguars are flying under the radar, and that's understandable. However, don't be surprised if they turn out to be noticeably better than they're expected to be next year.

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