NFL Analysis
4/24/25
4 min read
Cleveland Browns Pass on Generational Talent, Jacksonville Jaguars Add Explosive Weapon in Travis Hunter
We were promised fireworks at the top of the draft, and the NFL delivered. After rumblings for the last 48 hours, the Browns decided to trade away from the consensus No. 1 player in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars, with the youngest general manager in the league in James Gladstone, moved the No. 5 pick, their second-round pick (No. 36), and their 2026 first-round pick to get one of the most unique players in NFL history in Travis Hunter.
The move makes total sense for the Jaguars. They have a new general manager and head coach, and one thing we know from the history of the NFL is that new people in leadership positions love making a splash. Trading up for Hunter certainly accomplishes that.
But that’s not why the Jaguars traded up for him. He fills their two biggest needs: a No. 2 receiver to complement Brian Thomas Jr. and a cornerback who can make players on the outside. The Jaguars have a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence who is one of the highest-paid in the NFL, and they have now surrounded him with two of the most explosive receivers in back-to-back classes.
There isn’t an excuse for Lawrence now. He has the receivers. He has a young, offensive-minded head coach (Liam Coen) who succeeded with another former No. 1 pick in Baker Mayfield. It’s time for Lawrence to step up and live up to his former No. 1 status.
As for Hunter, he is now the highest-drafted receiver since Calvin Johnson (2007) and the highest-selected defensive back in NFL history. He is truly a generational player, and now the Jaguars are must-see TV every week. The Jaguars are now one of the league’s most “fun” teams and shouldn’t have any problem putting up points this season.
It’s not hard to get excited about the move by the Jaguars. They’ve added the best player in the class and have plenty of A+ talent on the roster. It’s time for them to make a run after pushing all of their chips to the middle of the table. The Texans have won the division in back-to-back seasons, but the Jaguars should be able to make a push right now. And that's probably why they felt the need to try to add one more blue-chip player to the roster.
But the more fascinating decision was the Browns trading away from a can’t-miss prospect. This certainly isn’t the first time they’ve done this. They were involved in one of the league’s biggest draft day trades, moving back from No. 6 during the 2011 NFL Draft, allowing the Falcons to move up to select Julio Jones.
Hunter was the type of prospect the Browns needed. He is a dynamic receiver who would fit well with Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku. And his ability to play with Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and Martin Emerson would have given Cleveland the best cornerback room in the NFL. Trading away from a truly generational talent takes a lot of guts. Maybe guts is the wrong word, but Andrew Berry has never been afraid to make the unconventional move.
However, it makes sense from a team-building perspective. Even with Travis Hunter, the Browns were likely to have the fourth-best odds to win the AFC North. It’s just the truth. They don’t have a quarterback to compete with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, nor do they have the roster or the infrastructure of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That’s just the nature of the beast in the NFL. It’s really hard to get excited about the team's future without a quarterback. And with no viable option at No. 2, the Browns decided to move down and pick up assets, which is generally a good strategy for teams who don’t have franchise quarterbacks. Accumulate picks so when a top-flight quarterback prospect is available, you have the assets to potentially make a move in upcoming years.
It’s also worth noting that the Browns still got a blue-chip player in this class. According to the expert consensus board, Graham was the No. 3 player on the board by a good margin. Cleveland had a big need at defensive tackle and Graham is one of the cleanest prospects in the class.
Obviously, it’s hard to judge this trade until we see where the 2026 first-round pick for the Jaguars lands and if the Browns are able to eventually land a quarterback with these selections. But it’s going to be hard for Browns fans to stomach the thought of trading away from the best player in the class. But that’s what makes all of this so much fun.
