JACKSONVILLE – This was his moment – a huge, historical moment.
Travis Hunter is now a member of the Jaguars – and for the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner who also ranks as one of the most unique draft selections in NFL history, that is an extremely cool and welcome happening.
"It means a lot to me," he said.
Hunter, a wide receiver/defensive back from the University of Colorado, on Thursday became the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Jaguars selected him there after trading up with the Cleveland Browns from No. 5 overall.
"I wanted to cry, but I can't cry right now because I'm too excited," Hunter told NFL Network moments after the selection.
Hunter (6-feet-1, 185 pounds), who played two seasons at Colorado and entered the draft as an early-entry junior, was considered by many analysts not only the draft's best wide receiver but its best cornerback.
Hunter he will leave his position up to "whatever the coaches in the organization, in the club think about me."
"It is up to them at this point, but I'm going to go out there and show my ability to do both," he said, adding: "I know they believe in me and they believed that I can do it."
Hunter, who also won the Walter Camp Award and was the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, won the Chuck Bednarik Award for college football's best defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for college football's best wide receiver in 2024 – becoming the first player to win both awards.
Hunter added of the NFL compared to college, "It's a faster game, but you get a lot more breaks, so I'm just excited to go out there and work."
The Jaguars in addition to the No. 5 selection also traded to the Browns the No. 36 (Round 2) and No. 126 (Round 4) selections in the '25 draft – and their first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jaguars received from the Browns the Nos. 104 (Round 4) and 200 (Round 6) selections in the '25 draft.
"There's no pressure," Hunter said. "There's no pressure for me. I just have to go out there and do my job, be Travis Hunter. They did everything they could to come get me. Now, I have to do everything I could to help win and help the organization uplift them."
Added Hunter, "I just feel like I can help the organization out in many ways and I hope that we turn it around."
A possible Browns-Jaguars trade was a day-long rumor in NFL Draft circles. Hunter – who was born in Palm Beach, Fla. – joked shortly after the selection that he had at least some idea for about "a good week" those rumors might be real.
"I'll probably say last night I was looking at some houses, so I kind of had a feeling," he said, laughing. "About a week ago, I was talking to my agent who was talking about it and I was thinking that this was a possibility."
Hunter, who played at Jackson State in 2022, caught 153 passes for 1,979 yards with 20 touchdowns in two seasons at Colorado – and caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024. He also intercepted seven passes in two seasons at Colorado, intercepting four passes in 2024.
Hunter said while he wasn't a Jaguars fan growing up, he followed all teams – including the Jaguars – this past season because he knew he planned to enter the NFL Draft. He therefore has a working knowledge of the team, discussing on Thursday playing in the same offense as Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. – a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2024.
"Brian Thomas is tough," Hunter said. "When people asked me my favorite receiver this year, I always tell them, 'Brian Thomas.' He's very slept on, but he's also very, very good. I'm excited to meet him and get to play with him and make that a dynamic duo."
