After days of speculation, it's official: the Jacksonville Jaguars acquired the second overall selection from the Cleveland Browns and selected Travis Hunter. Now, Trevor Lawrence's arsenal of weapons is complete.
There was a lot of speculation about the Jags' draft strategy ahead of the draft, but the final outcome isn't necessarily surprising.
While Jacksonville ultimately traded up for Hunter, there was chatter about them staying put and taking Ashton Jeanty at No. 5. Similarly, moving down a few spots to amass extra assets and drafting Tetairoa McMillan was also a possibility. However, Jacksonville knew it needed to raise the roster ceiling and went with the best prospect available.
All thing considered, it was a good deal. The Jaguars got picks No. 2, 104, and 200 in exchange for the fifth overall, picks No. 36, No. 126, and their 2026 first-round selection.
The best non-quarterback prospect in this year's draft, Hunter rose to prominence at Colorado and got the national spotlight for his ability to play on both sides of the ball at an elite level. As a receiver, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner hauled in 92 receptions for 1,15 yards with 14 touchdowns last season. As a cornerback, he limited his opponents to a 56.1 percent completion rate while registering four interceptions and one forced fumble.
Just ahead of the draft, Hunter made it clear that he would quit football if a team limited him to either offense or defense. Fortunately for him, the Jaguars will gladly accommodate his request.
What will Travis Hunter do for the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Travis Hunter will round out the Jaguars' wide receiver corps. He may start the season behind free-agent acquisition Dyami Brown and bonafide star Brian Thomas Jr. but will surely see an uptick in targets once he gets acclimated to the pros. Given that Brown only inked a one-year deal, Hunter will be ready to replace him in the starting lineup in 2026. Of course, he wouldn't just play offense.
As a cornerback, Huntter would join a group that includes Jarrian Jones, Tyson Campbell, and Jourdan Lewis, who signed a three-year deal in free agency. He would probably get a few snaps per game and get and increased workload as the season progresses.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars found the one missing piece both their offense and defense were needing. Now, they are in position to challenge the Houston Texans for AFC South dominance.