Wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is stealing the spotlight and rightly so. The Jacksonville Jaguars trade up to select him because he's the kind of player who can alter the course of a franchise. That said, the West Palm Beach, Florida native is far from the only player the Jags selected in the 2025 NFL Draft that will have an immediate impact.
After picking cornerback Caleb Ransaw and offensive lineman Wyatt Milum in Round 3, the front office gave the running back room a boost with the selection of Bhayshul Tuten.
It's not often that a fourth-round selection is expected to contribute right off the bat, but that's just what the Jaguars may want from Tuten.
A mainstay of the Virginia Tech offense, Tuten appeared in 24 games and a combined 356 carries for 2,022 yards with a whooping 25 touchdowns the past two years. But leaving aside his promising production, he posted the fastest 40-yard dash and 10-yard sprint among running backs in the NFL scouting combine. This is to say that his speed translates nicely onto the football field. That said, there's a reason why the former HokieMoun lasted until the fourth round.
Tuten had trouble getting a firm grip on the football. More specifically, he's lost nine fumbles since 2023. Moreover, he'll often bounce outside even if he has a clear path in front of him. The silver lining is that both issues could be fixed with the appropriate coaching, which he'll get in Jacksonville.
It's also worth noting that running backs' transition into the NFL isn't as steep as those of other positions, so nobody would bat an eye if the Jaguars lean on Tuten early in his rookie campaign.
Bhayshul Tuten gives the Jaguars a 1-2 punch alongside Tank Bigsby
NFL analyst and former league executive Louis Riddick had high praise for Bhayshul Tuten after the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"If you don't buckle your chinstrap against this guy, he will absolutely embarass you," Riddick said via Andy Bitter of Tech Sideline. "And he will stone linebackers coming down the pike trying to rush the passer. He is really the total package."
Of course, Tuten may not have a straight path for the right to back up Tank Bigsby. Travis Etienne is still on the mix, and there's a chance the Jags will want to hold on to him for one more season despite the fact that he's often come up as a potential trade candidate.
Etienne is entering a contract year and is coming off an injury-marred season. Add the fact that there's a new regime in place, and he could be on his way out. On the other hand, he registered over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in both 2022 and 2023, so that may be enough to convince the front office to keep him around.
Whether the Jaguars move on from Etienne before the regular season or let him walk next year, they know they have a potential game-changer in the Bhaysul Tuten and will do anything they can to get him on the field as soon as possible.