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Travis Hunter Makes NFL Draft History After Shocking Jaguars Pick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Apr 24, 2025 8:46 PM ET

Leading up to the NFL Draft on Thursday, all signs pointed to Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter being selected No. 2 overall—and that’s exactly what happened. But the pick didn’t come without some last-minute drama. The Cleveland Browns, who were widely expected to draft Hunter, traded out of the spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars, sending the Florida native back to his roots as he now heads to Duval.

With the selection, Hunter made history. He became the highest-drafted cornerback in NFL history and the first wide receiver to be taken in the top two since 2007—further highlighting his rare talent and unique value as a true two-way star.

Travis Hunter is…

The highest drafted CB in NFL HISTORY
The first WR to go Top 2 since 2007 pic.twitter.com/dFBHTeIiiH
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) April 25, 2025

Hunter spent one season at Jackson State before following Shedeur and Deion Sanders to Colorado, where he played the last two years—despite being the highest-rated prospect coming out of high school.

He made the bold decision to bet on Deion and the vision he was building as a young coach, and that gamble paid off in a big way. Last season with the Buffaloes, Hunter racked up 96 receptions for 1,528 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense, while also grabbing four interceptions on defense.

His historic two-way performance earned him the Heisman Trophy, making him just the second player in Colorado program history to win the prestigious award.

Now, he's heading to Jacksonville, where the Jaguars will face the challenge of maximizing his rare versatility. Hunter has made it clear he wants to play both sides of the ball, and that decision will fall into the hands of first-year head coach Liam Coen as he maps out how to unleash one of the most unique athletes the NFL has seen in years.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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