The Jacksonville Jaguars have gotten rave reviews for the decision to trade up for Travis Hunter. Similarly, the energy around the two-way star's arrival in the city of Duval has been palpable. His new teammates are welcoming him with arms wide open. In fact, Arik Armstead's reaction to his selection perfectly encapsulates the excitement.
Armstead was on the NFL Draft stage to announce the Jags' choice with the second overall pick after moving up from No. 5.
As you can see, Armstead cannot contain his excitement. But wait, there's more. There's also another video of him getting the card with Hunter's name. He points out that all the trade details were on an index card.
Keep in mind that Armstead is a 10-year veteran, so he's pretty much seen everything in the NFL. For something to get him so hyped up, it must be out of the ordinary. Getting to play with Hunter fits the bill. And he probably didn't think it would be possible.
Throughout the draft process, defensive tackle Mason Graham was the favorite to go to Jacksonville at No. 5. A couple weeks ahead of the event, running back Ashton Jeanty became the frontrunner.
But on the eve of draft day, chatter surfaced that the Jags were ready to make a bold move. Then, it was reported that they were exploring the possibility of trading up. Given that they have Trevor Lawrence in the fold, and Cam Ward was going to the Tennessee Titans, they weren't zeroing in on a quarterback. At No. 5, they could've landed Jeanty, so they were either moving up for pass rusher Abdul Carter or Hunter. It ended up being the latter.
Now, the Jags have a player who can play wide receiver and cornerback, and do it at a high level. Even if he doesn't have a full-time role on either side of the ball, he'll force opposing teams to game plan for him. That's the kind of impact he'll have in Jacksonville. Rightly, Armstead and all his teammates are hyped up about his arrival.
Fellow rookie Jalen McLeod is equally excited about suiting up for the same team as Hunter, pointing out that he'll ask him for his autograph.
Arik Armstead knows Travis Hunter will have a massive impact with the Jaguars
The Jaguars ended up giving their second-round pick this year and their second in 2026 to the Cleveland Browns to trade up for Travis Hunter. Although it seemed like a steep price, it was one they were willing to pay for a sport-altering player.
And that's the thing, the Browns got a good haul with the deal, but if the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner turns out to be a game-changer in the pros, they'll perpetually be known as "the team that passed on Travis Hunter."
Meanwhile, the Jaguars are bracing Hunter and what he represents: The beginning of a new era in Jacksonville. Understandably, Arik Armstead is hyped up, and nobody can fault him for not being able to contain his excitement.