Browns-Jaguars pull off stunning trade at No. 2 to start NFL Draft 2025
Jaguars shock the NFL with stunning trade with Browns to get to No. 2
As the 2025 NFL Draft approached, rumors began to swirl about the Jacksonville Jaguars being involved in a trade near the top of the draft board. Speculation grew that the Jaguars were going to trade out of the No. 5 spot, allowing a team to come up to No. 5 to draft Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
The Jaguars have indeed traded out of No. 5
But in a different direction.
Instead of trading down, Jacksonville is coming up. The Jaguars and new general manager James Gladstone have taken a big swing, moving up to No. 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft in a deal with the Cleveland Browns.
The player they are likely targeting? Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter Jr.
ESPN Sources:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025
Browns are trading the No. 2 overall pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 104), and a sixth-round pick (No. 200) to the Jaguars.
Jaguars are trading the No. 5 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their 2026 first-round pick… pic.twitter.com/9J3QPHqhhU
Update: The Jaguars indeed made the two-way standout their pick at No. 2. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Jaguars are expected to play Hunter on both sides of the football:
Jaguars are expected to play their first-round draft pick Travis Hunter on offense and defense. They will on-board him by giving him a heavy dose of the wide receiver position while still playing him at his more natural position on defense. Two positions for pick No. 2.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025
Rumblings of such a move surfaced late in the afternoon on Thursday, with Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network highlighting a deal that the Browns has completed earlier in the day, a late-round pick swap with the Houston Texans:
From NFL Draft Kickoff: The #Browns and #Texans always swung a trade for third-day picks… while the #Jaguars have emerged as the team to watch early tonight. pic.twitter.com/cCJnL9Duj9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2025
Immediately, the dots were connected:
If the Jaguars go up to 2 here, presume it's for Travis Hunter. And if the Browns fall back to 5, they'd remain in front of the Raiders and Jets to fill their OT need. Cleveland didn't have a 5 before the deal with Houston, so it could be earmarked to be a giveback in a trade. https://t.co/a6qZ6wvLKt
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 24, 2025
Then hours later Mary Kay Cabot from Cleveland.com floated this report:
#Browns are believed to have something cooking at No. 2, source says. Teams are calling. They're listening. Strap in.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 24, 2025
Now, the trade has happened.
While we wait on confirmation that the Jaguars are indeed drafting Hunter, it would appear that Jacksonville’s new GM is not wasting any time.
As for who Cleveland might be looking at when they are on the clock at No. 5, keep an eye on Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham.
And they are also in position to address the quarterback position in next year’s draft, with a pair of first-round selections.