JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After the Jaguars traded up three spots to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick in the draft on Thursday night, the team’s coach and general manager explained why they went after the two-way superstar -- and what they expect from him.
“He’s got a great feel for the game itself. When he’s on the offensive side of the ball, finding zones in the defense. He’s got really good ball skills,” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said. “He can do something with it after the catch. Then on the defensive side of the ball, he finds it. And that’s ultimately what we’re trying to do here, is continue to find people that can help us get our hands on the ball on the defensive side and go impact the game in that way.”
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Hunter, who played under NFL legend Deion Sanders at both Jackson State and Colorado, is returning to his home state of Florida. He was born in West Palm Beach.
First-time general manager James Gladstone, first-time head coach Coen and first-time executive vice president Tony Boselli wanted to make a splash with their top pick.
“We mentioned the idea that the trademark of this leadership group is that when there’s an opportunity to be bold, we’re not going to flinch,” Gladstone said. “I think this is a reflection of that.”
To get Hunter, Jacksonville gave up four picks — including second- and fourth-rounders this year and their 2026 first-rounder.
The Jaguars’ leadership believes Hunter is worth it.
“There are players that you can target and acquire who alter the trajectory of a game,” Gladstone said. “There are very few, and it’s rare to be able to target and prioritize a player who can alter the sport itself. And Travis is somebody that we view has the potential to do that.”
The Jags also received a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder in return from the Browns, with both picks coming in this draft.
“Along the way, there was a pretty good pulse for what the end was going to look like, and really what executing that once they were on the clock would sort of shape out to be. And the fact that it came to life as seamlessly as it did, once the bell rung, is something that was fulfilling,” Gladstone said. “Being able to sit here tonight with Travis Hunter as a Jacksonville Jaguar is a vision that Liam, myself, Tony, and the rest of our coaching staff and scouting staff certainly have a collective vision for.”
Hunter, one of the most intriguing NFL prospects in draft history, will join franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Pro Bowl receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to create the core of Coen’s offense — and maybe his defense, too.
Hunter told NFL teams he plans to play both sides of the ball as a pro. The Jaguars envision him primarily as a receiver but plan to have defensive packages for him.
“We’ll have a plan right now of primarily on offense with the defensive system and practicing on the defensive side of the ball as well throughout this offseason program,” Coen said. “As we continue to grow, we have to be fluid throughout this whole process. We’ve had multiple conversations at length with athletic training, equipment, sports science, coaching, everybody involved about this process and what it’s going to look like moving forward. We have a plan in place, and that’s really where we’ll start.”
Last season, Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns and notched 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups, eight forced incompletions and four interceptions while allowing just one touchdown.
“We look forward to onboarding Travis,” Gladstone said. “For the start, our plan there is to have a heavier dose of offense early, knowing his more natural position is on defense. Offense certainly requires a lot of nuance, a lot of adjustments, and so I want to make sure he gets off to a good start in that sort of mental frame of mind. And then as we continue to build and get on the grass and even out that balance as time goes on.”
Looking ahead, the Jaguars still hold nine more selections in the 2025 draft. Here are their remaining picks:
- No. 70, No. 88 overall (Round 3)
- No. 104, No. 107 overall (Round 4)
- No. 142 overall (Round 5)
- No. 182, No. 194, No. 200 overall (Round 6)
- No. 221 overall (Round 7)
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