Michael DiRoccoApr 24, 2025, 08:23 PM ET
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- Michael DiRocco is an NFL Country reporter at ESPN and covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He prior to now coated the College of Florida for over a decade for ESPN and the Florida Occasions-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville College and is a more than one APSE award winner.
The Jaguars traded as much as achieve the No. 2 select Thursday and decided on extensive receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter, a participant Jacksonville believes will alternate the course of the franchise and probably the game.
The Browns moved down 3 spots with the business. Cleveland gained the No. 5 select, a second-round select (No. 36), a fourth-round variety (No. 126) and a 2026 first-round choose from the Jaguars, who gained the No. 2 select, a fourth-round selection (No. 104) and a sixth-round variety (No. 200), assets informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
With the No. 5 variety, the Browns decided on Michigan defensive take on Mason Graham.
Shifting up 3 spots in his first draft with the staff is a daring transfer for first-time normal supervisor James Gladstone. He mentioned previous in April that his first draft select with the franchise would set the tone for his tenure. Gladstone believes shifting as much as achieve Hunter may probably alternate the course of a franchise that hasn’t made back-to-back playoff appearances since 1996 to 1999.
Travis Hunter mentioned he is aware of the Jaguars “imagine in me, and so they believed that I will be able to do it [play both ways].” AP Photograph/Jeff Roberson
“There are avid gamers that you’ll be able to goal and procure who modify the trajectory of a sport. There are avid gamers that you’ll be able to goal and procure that modify the trajectory of a soccer staff,” Gladstone mentioned at the staff’s draft display on YouTube moments after making the select. “There are only a few, and it is uncommon so that you can goal and prioritize a participant who can modify the game itself. And Travis is any individual that we view has the possible to do this.
“Clearly, there is a lot for him to be informed as he steps into the NFL, however we view him in the course of the lens of distinctive and it is thrilling for us so that you can upload somebody to this group who via being not anything greater than who he’s, elevates the distance round him. And I’m fascinated with the chance so that you can put the ones phrases now to motion and feature our fan base and supporters see what I intended via the ones strains of concept.”
Changing the game is prime reward, however Hunter appeared unfazed via that remark.
“There is no power for me,” Hunter mentioned. “I simply have to move in the market and do my task, be Travis Hunter. They did the whole lot they may to return get me. Now, I have were given to do the whole lot I may to assist win and assist the group.”
Hunter added that he spoke for a couple of moments with Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile in a while after he used to be decided on.
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“I used to be excited to listen to either one of them at the telephone, so I do know they imagine in me, and so they believed that I will be able to do it [play both ways],” Hunter mentioned.
Hunter, who performed 1,481 snaps and averaged 113.9 yards in keeping with sport in 2024, mentioned he is desperate to have the similar roughly workload with the Jaguars. Gladstone mentioned the plan is to begin Hunter on offense and paintings him in on protection as he grows extra at ease.
Discussions between the Browns and Jaguars a couple of possible business started two weeks in the past and a framework of an settlement used to be in position in a while after.
“We had a horny just right thought for more than likely the closing couple of weeks that this used to be going to most probably come to fruition,” Gladstone mentioned. “Clearly, you by no means know till it if truth be told does actually happen, however we are surely satisfied that it did.”
Gladstone’s willingness to surrender the 5th total select and 3 different draft choices (together with their first-rounder in 2026) is one thing he realized whilst running with Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead for 9 years. Snead has made 50 trades in his 13 seasons with the Rams, and on account of a few of the ones trades the Rams did not have a first-round choose from 2017-23. It is a technique that has been nicknamed “F— them choices.”
“You realize what, I more than likely were given some familiarity with the ‘[F—] them choices’ form of procedure,” Gladstone mentioned. “For our fanatics, I will inform you, do not be scared. That is one thing I am uniquely situated to navigate. We ended up bringing Travis Hunter to Jacksonville, and with that, he’s any individual who’s deserving of a first-round draft select as a large receiver, and he’s worthy of a first-round draft select as a nook.
“No doubt, look ahead to every of the ones parts appearing themselves over the following couple of years whilst he’s beneath his rookie contract, however yeah, we are fascinated with simply getting him within the boat, as a way to discuss.” Snead informed newshounds in Los Angeles that he used to be satisfied to peer Gladstone working Thursday.
“You realize what, I will be able to say this: You simplest are living as soon as,” Snead mentioned. “Do not be scared. You simplest were given one existence. Be sure to’re no longer scared when you are dwelling it. So, what, James resides his highest existence this night. Cross get ’em, James.”
Snead added, “It used to be a laugh to look at as a result of James used to be right here, from afar and I name it, assault, be competitive. Clearly, they’d numerous pastime for that participant.”
Browns normal supervisor Andrew Berry mentioned the chance so as to add a first-round select in 2026 used to be a key a part of the deal.
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“We simply felt adore it used to be an improbable alternative for our group to transport down 3 spots, nonetheless getting a top-notch prospect within the trenches, including a select in what we view is in point of fact the candy spot for this yr’s draft magnificence after which including a first-round select in a category that slightly frankly we expect might be a little more potent within the first 30 choices,” Berry mentioned. “So, we simply felt like each within the quick time period and over a multiyear time horizon, it used to be a have compatibility for what we would have liked to do with the roster.”
This previous season, Hunter turned into the second one full-time defensive participant to win the Heisman Trophy and the 5th extensive receiver to win the award. Hunter’s 15 landing catches had been tied for moment maximum within the FBS, and his 4 interceptions had been tied for 3rd maximum within the Giant 12. His 1,481 snaps in 2024 had been just about 300 greater than any participant within the FBS.
A 3-year participant in faculty, Hunter started his profession at FCS Jackson State within the 2022 season prior to following trainer Deion Sanders to Colorado, the place he performed the previous two seasons.
In Cleveland, Graham joins a defensive entrance this is headlined via 2023 Defensive Participant of the 12 months Myles Garrett. Cleveland this offseason launched beginning defensive take on Dalvin Tomlinson however signed Maliek Collins. Mike Corridor, a 2024 second-round select, is rehabbing a vital knee damage this is anticipated to sideline him till coaching camp.
ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi and Sarah Barshop contributed to this record.
