If you're a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, you had to endure several years of painful disappointment until Liam Coen became the had coach in 2025. But also, you might have heard that they don't have a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and their first selection will come at No. 56. If you were wondering how that happened, we got you covered.
It goes back to last year's draft, when the Jaguars had the fifth overall selection. On draft day, they made a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns to move up three spots and select two-way star Travis Hunter. It wasn't cheap, though, as they had to include their 2026 first-round pick as part of the deal.
Why did the Jaguars trade their 2026 first-round pick to the Browns for Travis Hunter
Just a few days before the draft, rumors surfaced that the Jaguars were preparing to take a big swing, which turned out to be the Travis Hunter trade. It's worth noting that they had already worked on the deal two weeks before the draft began, but they kept it under wraps.
After making the blockbuster trade, general manager James Gladstone said that Jacksonville couldn't pass up the chance to come out with a sport-altering talent, a player who could not only change the landscape of football or the team but of sports as well.
In the end, the Jags gave up their 2025 first-round pick, their 2025 second-round pick, a 2025 sixth-rounder, and their 2026 first-round pick in return for the second overall in 2025, and a fourth-rounder the same year. The latter selection turned out to be running back Bhayshul Tuten.
With pick No. 5, Cleveland ended up drafting defensive tackle Mason Graham, who was a solid but not a great starter as a rookie. It's worth noting that he was linked to Jacksonville during the draft process because the interior defensive line was one of its needs.
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What did the Travis Hunter trade go for the Jaguars?
The Jaguars traded for Travis Hunter with the expectation that he was going to play two ways full-time. However, he mostly played receiver as a rookie and struggled to get going early on. That said, No. 12 had a breakout game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7, hauling in eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury that cut his rookie campaign short not long after.
Although Hunter is ahead of schedule in his recovery, he'll tentatively see a decrease in playing time on offense and will play cornerback full-time next season because the Jaguars need him more on that side of the ball. The former Heisman Trophy winner will continue to line up at receiver, but only on a full-time basis.
If Hunter makes a full recovery and goes on to make an impact next season, the trade will look much better, and the Jaguars won't mind the fact that they had to give up their first-round pick in 2026.
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