What a night: Travis Hunter is a Jaguar after blockbuster trade with Browns

By Hays Carlyon

New Jaguars general manager James Gladstone needed two months to orchestrate the biggest trade in Jaguars history.

The Jaguars were the team to watch heading into the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday. Gladstone needed 15 minutes to steal the show.

The Jaguars traded up three spots with Cleveland to draft Heisman Trophy phenomenon Travis Hunter. The Colorado superstar excelled at both receiver and cornerback and is expected to play on both sides of the ball for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars gave up next year’s first-round pick as part of the package, so the message is clear. Gladstone, coach Liam Coen and executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli believe the Jaguars can overtake Houston for AFC South supremacy this season.

Hunter might be worth two or three wins on his own.

The Jaguars now potentially have one of the NFL’s most potent receiving tandems in Brian Thomas Jr. and Hunter.

Hunter also forms an enticing cornerback pairing with Tyson Campbell.

If the Jaguars have acquired the NFL’s version of Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani, this will be one of the greatest days in franchise history.

Expectations should be high though for a team that is coming off a 4-13 season, although dysfunction under the fired leadership probably played as big a role in that record as overall team talent.

Coen, Gladstone and Boselli have brought a fresh energy.

Gladstone just delivered likely the best player in the draft. He still has nine picks remaining in this draft, but none are in the second round.

If Hunter is a star for this organization over the coming years, the price to move up will mean little.

Coen will have to navigate unchartered waters in determining Hunter’s workload. Can he really play 1,500 (or more) NFL snaps in a season?

Hunter will also have to prove that he can not only handle the physical strain of such a unique role, but also the mental component. Being able to play two positions in the NFL without making assignment mistakes is an incredible challenge.

The Jaguars still have holes. Gladstone is confident he can find hidden gems in the later rounds. He will need to find reliable help at defensive tackle, defensive end, offensive guard, cornerback and safety.

The Jaguars definitely needed an infusion of star talent. Even in the unpredictability of the NFL, it is hard not to see Hunter having an extraordinary career.

Gladstone gave up a bunch of draft capital, but my guess is this will be a move the brings smiles to Jaguars faces for decades to come.

What a night.

Travis Hunter is a Jaguar.

(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter/X @HaysCarlyon)