The Jacksonville Jaguars, under their new general manager Gladstone, made a bold move during the 2025 NFL Draft by trading with the Cleveland Browns to secure two-way star Travis Hunter with the second overall pick. This trade involved giving up significant assets, including the fifth and 36th overall picks in 2025 and their first-round pick in 2026, raising questions about the cost versus Hunter's uncertain position as a wide receiver or cornerback. Gladstone, drawing from his experience with the Los Angeles Rams, conveyed to fans that his approach is informed by a willingness to part with draft picks to build a competitive team. Despite the high stakes, Gladstone is optimistic that Hunter's elite skills will justify the trade, although the Jaguars remain in a transitional phase. The trade signifies Gladstone's confidence in reshaping the team, despite potential risks if the team underperforms in the upcoming seasons, potentially benefiting the Browns with better future draft positions.

Jacksonville Jaguars' new GM Gladstone traded with the Cleveland Browns to draft Travis Hunter, a two-way player, with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The trade required the Jaguars to give up their fifth and 36th overall picks in 2025, along with their first-round pick in 2026, which was considered a significant price for a rebuilding team.

Gladstone's decision reflects his past experience with the Rams, where he learned to prioritize exceptional talent over holding onto draft picks, a strategy he hopes will pay off with Hunter.

Hunter's position and usage remain uncertain as he could play as either a wide receiver or cornerback, but his potential merits the investment according to Gladstone.

The trade is a high-risk, high-reward move for the Jaguars, who are still in a transitional phase, and it could backfire if the team continues to struggle, giving the Browns better draft positions in the future.

Gladstone's approach is driven by confidence and a willingness to embrace risk to transform the Jaguars, encouraging fans to support his vision despite the potential downsides.

The trade aligns with Gladstone's philosophy of aggressive team building, learned from his tenure with the Rams, and aims to bring immediate talent to the Jaguars, although the team's overall performance remains a concern.

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft as a complete wild-card, mostly because of their new baby-faced general manager who just arrived in February after nine years as a scout and assistant executive with the Los Angeles Rams.

Gladstone certainly made a memorable first impression on Thursday night, swinging a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns to land two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado with the second overall pick of the draft.

The price, for a rebuilding Jaguars team, was massive. Jacksonville sent pick Nos. 5 and 36 overall this year, as well as its first-round pick in 2026, to Cleveland to climb three spots, with some Day 3 capital coming back from the Browns in return.

Was that an overpay for a player whose position — wide receiver, cornerback or both? — and usage remains up in the air? Perhaps it was, but Gladstone had this message for fans regarding his history working with Les Snead and the Rams:

I probably got some familiarity with the ‘f— them picks’ sort of process. For our fans, I’ll tell you don’t be scared. This is something I’m uniquely positioned to navigate. We ended up bringing Travis Hunter to Jacksonville, and with that, he is somebody who is deserving of a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver, and he is worthy of a first-round pick as a corner. I certainly look forward to each of those elements showing themselves over the next few years while he’s under his rookie contract, but yeah, we’re just excited about getting him in the boat, so to speak. 

Gladstone joined the Rams in 2016 as a senior assistant to Snead. That was the year the Rams drafted Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick. Since that point, thanks in part to the 2021 blockbuster trade that sent Goff to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford, the Rams have used a first-round pick on just one other player — Jared Verse at No. 19 overall in 2024. Gladstone watched his former general manager go seven consecutive seasons without a first-round prospect, so to his point, when the 2026 draft rolls around, navigating the board will feel like muscle memory.

We can say this about Jacksonville’s 34-year-old GM — he’s not afraid to put his neck on the line for a move he feels will help the team. While Hunter is a rare talent, given his elite traits on both sides of the football, the Jaguars are still in a state of transition here. If they finish near the bottom of the NFL standings again in 2025, the Browns will be enjoying the fruits of those struggles.

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No one would have said a word if Jacksonville played it safe, and potentially shopped the No. 5 overall pick to a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, who were looking to land Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Gladstone took it the opposite direction in an extreme way, and with the confidence he’s exuded since arriving in Duval County — and again on Thursday night — it should be easy for the fans to embrace him.

MORE: When do Jaguars pick next? Updated draft board for Jacksonville after blockbuster trade with Browns