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Inside the Travis Hunter trade: How GMs James Gladstone and Andrew Berry pulled it off
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- Inside the Travis Hunter trade: How GMs James Gladstone and Andrew Berry pulled it off
More than a month has passed since the Jacksonville Jaguars shocked the NFL world by drafting two-way Heisman winner Travis Hunter .
The Jaguars traded multiple picks to the Cleveland Browns to move from No. 5 overall to No. 2, altering the trajectory of the franchise in the process. It was largely kept a secret by both organizations with the first real rumblings of it being a possibility coming the night before the NFL Draft.
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The Jaguars recently released their in-house video, "The Hunt," which detailed how the trade came about and behind-the-scene footage of the process.
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Jaguars general manager James Gladstone and Browns general manager Andrew Berry went on a CBS Sports podcast "With the first Pick" to reveal what it took to make the trade happen.
When did the Jaguars reach out to the Browns to discuss details of the Travis Hunter trade?
According to the podcast, the general managers originally spoke at the NFL owners meetings. But they didn't speak about Hunter until about two weeks before the draft when they established a "framework" for what eventually became the official deal.
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How was the Travis Hunter trade kept quiet?
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, listens as General Manager James Gladstone, right. Answers questions during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
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The trade was kept unusually quiet thanks to Gladstone's newness to the position.
"I was like, 'Andrew, I think we're kind of in luck because nobody really actually has my number,'" Gladstone said on the podcast. "It's not like I can talk to many people because it's an unknown caller."
He jokingly said that'll change going forward.
Would the Browns have taken Travis Hunter if they stayed at No. 2? Who would the Jaguars have taken at No. 5?
Berry said the most direct path if they stayed at No. 2 would've been taking a quarterback. So if the Titans didn't select Cam Ward with the first pick, he would've ended up in Cleveland. However, Hunter was viewed as the best non-quarterback in the draft, so he likely would've been their pick if they didn't make the trade.
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The Jaguars would've likely stayed at No. 5 and selected Ashton Jeanty with the pick. He would've helped the team as an offensive weapon for first-year head coach Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence .
Jaguars set to host minicamp from June 10-12
The Jaguars have allowed Hunter to develop as a two-way player since drafting him. They've deployed him on both sides of the ball in the classroom, but also, bringing him along on the field.
The team wrapped up OTAs last week and will host a mandatory minicamp from June 10-12 before dismissing for the summer.
The Jaguars have opened the minicamp practice on June 11 to fans, allowing them to come out to get an early glimpse of Hunter and the rest of the team.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: James Gladstone, Andrew Berry detail executing Travis Hunter trade
