By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
JACKSONVILLE – Fasten your seatbelts, Jaguars’ fans.
And keep your emotions in check for the time being.
New and relatively unknown general manager James Gladstone promised to make some moves that would set an aggressive tone for the franchise’s road back to respectability, and he delivered in his first draft, nearly two months to the day he was hired.
Moving up three spots in the draft to acquire Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is certainly a start.
You certainly had to look and hear it twice when the seismic-like move happened Thursday night.
If the Jags’ new regime stays true to their word and the course, it will be an interesting season ahead.
Drafting Hunter appeared on most accounts to be a can’t-miss compared to teammate quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who’s stock sun and is still on the board after round one.
When you look at the paperwork, though, the Jags did give up next year’s first-round pick, which apparently didn’t raise many red flags around the league.
With Hunter, the Jags could instantly solve their glaring secondary issue, and he could also provide possibly the league’s most dynamic receiving duos with second-year man receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Hunter averaged 113.9 snaps per game last season, and he had nine games of 120 or more in his career. If you’re old enough to remember Eagles’ two-way player Chuck Bednarik, Hunter will be the league’s new “60-minute man.”
Initial indications from Jaguars’ brass has him plugged in on offense with Thomas Jr. and be made available in defensive packages.
Yet, if Hunter is a bust, Gladstone will have the loss of the top pick in 2026 hanging over him.
However, this is the Jags’ Disney version of a “bold, new world,” and Gladstone isn’t buying it.
“There are players that you can target and acquire who alter the trajectory of a game. There are players that you can target and acquire that alter the trajectory of a football team,” said Gladstone. “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.”
Gladstone and the Jags’ regime hopes and needs for it to be true with their dice-roll move.
The Jags lost their second-round pick to the Browns in the Hunter move, but they have two apiece in the third- and fourth-rounds, and nine left overall. Gladstone hinted there could be more ground-breaking moves ahead tonight when the second-and third rounds are held.
If he’s true to his word, Gladstone will make another stunning and shocking move or two. There are needs to fill on both sides of the ball, and the Jags could use another impact player in the second round.
Fast your seatbelts, and end enjoy the ride to the Jags’ brave new world.
