Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
Without saying anything, Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone told everyone that Travis Hunter will play both ways. And he is not Fair I’m going to play both ways. The Jaguars expect it to be a superstar on both sides of football.
Gladstone did not have to tell anyone his plan or his expectations. The draft of the capital spoke. To advance from the fifth in general to the second in general, the Jaguars sent to the Cleveland Browns a future first round and a second round of 2025 as part of the agreement.
To some extent, I can see why they did. Hunter was widely classified as WR1 and CB1 in this year’s Draft class. If the Jaguars see it as a safe holder in both positions, then, in some way, it makes sense to spend two first round selections on it. There is also value to essentially obtain an additional list of game day with a player who starts in two positions.
But the fascinating thing about Hunter, if the Browns had tasks, was the value of two by one. Then, in a sense, the Jaguars erased that unique value when giving up this war selection chest for him.
It is a lot to surrender. Probably too much.
When Gadstone finally system plans and expectations for Hunter, Jags’s GM explained why they decided to make the movement.
“There are players that you can aim at and acquire that they can alter the trajectory of a game,” the team’s internal radio show told the team immediately after the Jaguars made the choice on Thursday night. “There are players that you can aim and acquire that they can alter the trajectory of a football team. There are very few, and it is strange, aim and prioritize a player who can alter the sport itself. Travis is someone who believes that that is that is.”
Ok, so we will immerse ourselves in the exact details of the transaction:
The Browns receive: Fifth General Selection (First Round), 36th General Selection (Second Round), 126a General Selection (Fourth Round) and 2026 First Round Selection.
The Jaguars receive: Second General Selection (First Round), 104a General Selection (Fourth Round), 200th General Selection (Sixth Round).
Gladstone said the agreement has been in process since April, but the Browns and the Jaguars really felt well with the agreement in recent weeks. It was then that the concept approached reality.
So let’s talk about the reality that Hunter plays both ways in the NFL. Because Gladstone said it, to be a two -way star, Hunter will have to change what we understand about the sport of football. No one has a two -way star. Even Deion Sanders, the former Hunter coach in Colorado, had a limited role in the offensive. And it could be the most famous bidirectional player in the history of the game. Hunter has repeatedly said that his intention is to be a full -time holder.
“They put me on the phone with both coordinators,” Hunter told ESPN after the Jaguars picked him up.
A full -time holder would mean playing approximately 2,000 snapshots per regular NFL season. In Colorado last year, Hunter played 1,356 snapshots. It will have a 147% workload in the NFL compared to the university if it is good to play full time. And he doesn’t stop there. Will have a rigorous daily schedule throughout the seasonProbably from 6:30 am and ending at 8:30 pm, it will mean a specialized schedule to ensure that you attend the right meetings, and recover those that cannot attend (because it can only be in one place at the same time). He
It will mean extra job for him and for his team.
I don’t say I can’t do it. I just say that it is never done. The good news for all involved is that Gladstone was clearly bought for that to happen. And the jaguars must make it happen quickly.
Before Hunter can change the league, Hey needs to start with the first quality of Gladstone mentioned: altering the trajectory of the games. If you can do that, then you will alter the trajectory of the long -standing jaguars. If you can do that, you can make sure the selection next year is in the Top 10. And that could contribute greatly to make this exchange look better. Because at this time, it is easy to project another mediocre season of Jacksonville. It is easy to imagine a significant value for that future of first round. If Jaguar’s end next year at the bottom of the League, even if Hunter is good, it will be difficult to see the Browns take their potential selection of the 10 best.
Maybe someday, hunter can Change the NFL. But if you will justify the brave decision of Gladstone, then Hunter needs to win games in a way that nobody has done it, rarely comes out of the field. And balancing the impulse of the games when staying there.
Before joining Fox Sports as a reporter and NFL columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven covering the Patriots for USA Today Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow it on Twitter in @Henrycmckenna.
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