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Jacksonville Jaguars Make Bold Moves in 2025 NFL Draft

A Historic Rebranding Opportunity

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In the realm of sports rebrands, this presented a golden opportunity for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It signified a pivotal moment for the team to shed the perception of being viewed as lackluster or as mere doormats in the world of professional football. When the time came for action, Jags owner Shad Khan was unequivocal in his intentions.

“Let’s make history,” Khan exclaimed to his newly appointed general manager, the 34-year-old James Gladstone. His statement ignited a wave of enthusiasm within the team’s draft room on a thrilling Thursday night. The clock struck 8:13 p.m. ET, and a monumental trade, which Gladstone had orchestrated 17 days in advance, could finally be set into motion.

Key Moments Leading Up to the Draft

The Tennessee Titans had made a significant choice, opting for quarterback Cam Ward as the first overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. This decision eliminated any lingering uncertainties and paved the way for the Cleveland Browns, who were called upon to make their pick next. In less than a minute, it would be the Jaguars’ turn to shine.

To orchestrate this move toward a new era of competitiveness, the Jaguars relinquished a package that comprised the No. 5 overall draft pick, a second-round choice in 2025, and a first-round pick in 2026. These sacrifices were made to ascend three slots to the coveted second position—specifically targeting a player deemed an ultimate game-changer for the franchise.

Celebrating a New Addition

Approximately 30 minutes following the completion of the trade, the jubilant mood surrounding the acquisition of the Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver and cornerback, Travis Hunter, was palpable. Khan, whose franchise had only seen the postseason a mere two times since he took ownership in 2011, elaborated on his sense of elation.

“One thing the Jags have always done effectively is build draft capital,” Khan remarked. “We’ve excelled at stockpiling picks, but fundamentally, what do we have to showcase for those efforts? What we need are difference-makers. That’s precisely what we achieved.”

A New Era Takes Shape

Following a thorough revamp of his organizational structure after the 2024 season—welcoming Hall of Famer Tony Boselli as executive vice president of football operations, as well as the hiring of Liam Coen as head coach and Gladstone as general manager—Khan has been encouraged by the bold and daring strategies swept through the team’s leadership.

“If there’s an opportunity to be bold,” Gladstone frequently states, “we won’t flinch.”

On the night of the draft, clad in a beige hoodie beneath a light-green linen blazer, Gladstone showcased his ability to walk the talk, finalizing a plan that kept under wraps for three weeks, not teasing the public until the critical hours leading up to the event.

A Bold Strategy in Action

Gladstone, a protégé of Rams general manager Les Snead, seems to have adopted the “Forget About the Picks” ethos and reinstated it in Jacksonville. Inside the draft room, the mood among the staff was one of unity and excitement—there were no dissenting voices.

“He’s an exceptionally unique player,” Boselli noted regarding Hunter. “From our perspective, we secured two second overall picks in this draft.”

Hunter embodies the traits Gladstone, Coen, and Boselli envision as they attempt to revive a franchise with a troubled past. Coming off a dismal 4-13 season that led to the termination of coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, the stakes could not have been higher.

Gladstone ensured the digital draft board reflected their aspirations. Next to every player’s name, they included a vibrant number ranging from 1 to 9, representing their “Jaguars DNA”—a unique metric that encapsulates assessments from scouts and coaches. Attributes like competitiveness, toughness, and an intrinsic love of football factor prominently into this evaluation.

Identifying the Game-Changer

Individual players were organized by position in vertical columns, prioritized from top to bottom, with the most appealing draftees at the peak. The elite category labeled “Math Changers” was expressly reserved for players that Gladstone, Coen, and Boselli believed could have a substantial impact on the organization’s fortunes. Just below that were “Math Changers, Buyer Beware.”

In the unfolding strategy, only two players clinched a position in the elite column: Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

While the Jaguars had the option to stay at No. 5 and secure Jeanty—a player they considered desirable but who filled a less-than-premium position—discussions emerged regarding trading down to acquire additional draft capital. Nonetheless, many teams in the area expressed similar sentiments, complicating matters as the overtures the Jags received weren’t particularly enticing. The team leadership sensed that rival franchises were attempting to leverage their situation, knowing that multiple organizations were eyeing the option to trade down to stockpile more picks, questioning Gladstone’s competence as a rookie general manager.

Despite those tactics, the Jaguars’ strategy remained steadfast.

“I’ll say this,” Boselli commented. “Underestimating James comes at a perilous risk. He’s relentless. He’s fearless.”

Reassessing the Draft Board

Three weeks prior, Gladstone had recalibrated the conversation and posed a thought-provoking question to Boselli and Coen during a strategic meeting in the draft room: “What if we trade up?”

He argued that Hunter was a generational talent who could bolster two essential positions—one who could fundamentally change the game’s dynamics. Moreover, he is an exceptionally diligent individual focused on perfecting his craft, an ideal tone-setter for this new era within the franchise.

“We watched his highlights and consistently found ourselves saying, ‘Wow—can you actually believe this guy?’” Boselli reminisced.

Gladstone ultimately felt inspired—he said, "It had been brewing in my mind. Finally, I voiced it; it felt attainable, almost within our grasp. Why not take a shot at seizing it?”

As Boselli and Coen echoed their support, Gladstone reached out to Browns general manager Andrew Berry, who was open to discussing a possible trade. For succinct reasoning—Cleveland was still entangled with the contract of Deshaun Watson and may soon be in search of a franchise quarterback—securing an extra first-round pick the next year would provide them a considerably improved standing in their pursuit. In addition, the Browns would benefit from the immediate assistance of an additional second-round selection in the current draft.

Executing the Strategic Move

On April 7, Gladstone and Berry arrived at an agreement for the trade, dependent on two contingencies: the deal would only be finalized once the Browns were on the clock, and only if the Titans—or another team via trade—selected Cam Ward with the first selection. Should that circumstance not arise, the Browns would rescind the trade and select Ward.

In addition, both respective owners had to endorse the transaction.

Upon relaying this plan to Boselli, he responded, “I believe it’s time we have a conversation with Shad.”

Thus, Boselli, Gladstone, and Coen entered Boselli’s office and contacted Khan, who attentively listened as the trio laid out their rationale: Hunter represented a unique opportunity to propel the franchise into a new direction during an innovative time. After a brief discussion, Khan consented, saying, “If you guys deem it’s best, let’s proceed.”

The Jaguars and Browns maintained discretion about their arrangement, and rumors about a potential trade did not circulate until Thursday afternoon, just five hours before draft commencement.

The Excitement Before the Draft

As the day of the draft dawned, the atmosphere within Jacksonville’s training facility buzzed with energy. Gladstone and Boselli convened in the draft room—Gladstone pacing and holding a football (a peculiar custom of his)—while Boselli lounged back in a chair, focused on the draft board with eager anticipation about the upcoming proceedings.

“This is a chance for us to cement the fact that a new era is dawning in Jacksonville,” Boselli declared. “We won’t be timid. While we may not always hit the mark, we will stand for something and won’t hesitate to pursue what we desire.”

From the outset, the Jaguars regarded Hunter as a dual-threat prospect. The preliminary plan is to deploy him primarily as a wide receiver while gradually integrating him into a specialized role as a cornerback. If all unfolds favorably, his responsibilities on defense may further expand down the line.

Hunter has expressed his ambition to become the NFL’s first genuine full-time two-way player in several decades, and it appears Jacksonville could be the environment where that ambition is nurtured.

“It’s an organizational mission, and we possess a clear plan,” Coen mentioned. “We’re thrilled about the various roles he can fill—the kind of athlete we are eager to have on our roster.”

Anticipation and Big Decisions

As the clock ticked closer to the draft’s commencement, the newly established powerhouse trio—along with Khan, his son Tony, and daughter Shanna—exuded excitement inside the otherwise minimally populated draft room, all primed for the exhilarating events to unfold.

When Gladstone executed the trade, Hunter himself was caught off-guard. Other than a brief conversation at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Jaguars had refrained from communicating directly with the player during the draft process, causing him to learn of the trade as events unfolded.

“You know what?” Gladstone quipped to Hunter, “Take a moment to soak this in. We are moving up from No. 5 to No. 2 because you are the one we have been pursuing.”

“Absolutely!” Hunter exclaimed with enthusiasm and confidence. “That’s the best choice ever.”

Later, Boselli—a historic figure as the first draft pick in Jaguars history—shared with Hunter, “Thirty years ago, I was the second pick as well… we were targeting you from day one.”

Ultimately, the Jaguars secured their player, making a powerful statement in the process.

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