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Right after the Titans drafted Miami quarterback Cam Ward No.1 overall, all eyes turned to the Cleveland Browns, who were widely expected to take Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
Right player, wrong team.
The Jaguars gave up the No. 5 overall selection, their second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick, and a 2026 first-round pick so they could get up to No. 2 and select Hunter. Cleveland also sent back fourth- and sixth-round selections. The Jags, which finished last season 4–13, now have a target for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whose completions, touchdowns, and passer rating have dropped for two consecutive seasons.
Hunter isn’t your typical draftee. The Heisman winner’s two-way status as an elite wide receiver and cornerback could increase his value for the Jaguars, who need both offense and defense. They ranked 26th in points per game and 27th in points allowed last season.
GMs around the league have been speculating about where Hunter would ultimately play. For his part, Hunter wants to keep playing on both sides of the ball, telling CBS Sports, “I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball.”
Last week, Browns GM Andrew Berry compared him to three-time Major League MVP Shohei Ohtani. “You, obviously, get a unicorn if you use him both ways,” he said. But Berry said he views Hunter primarily as a receiver.
The receiver distinction may work out in his favor. The top five highest-paid receivers will average $34.85 million in salary for the 2025 season; it’s just $24.82 million for defensive backs, per Spotrac.
Regardless of where he plays, Hunter, who is represented by Lil Wayne’s Young Money APAA Sports on the field and SMAC Entertainment for marketing deals off it, is in for a big payday. As the No. 2 pick, his guaranteed four-year contract should be worth over $40 million.
