The Cleveland Browns were oh so close to finally doing something right.
Reports emerged as Thursday afternoon turned to evening that the Browns were seriously considering trading down out of the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft's first round.
They could've stayed put and landed the most talented player in the NFL Draft, two-way superstar Travis Hunter.
Instead, the Browns blew it.
They traded No. 2 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it was the Jags who picked Hunter, not Cleveland.
MORE: Full details of Browns-Jaguars Travis Hunter trade
The Browns got a big haul, but can it ever make up for not getting Hunter?
With the No. 2 pick, it looked like the Browns might finally enter a new era. They could finally get out from under the nightmare Deshaun Watson trade. They could finally have a generational future.
Instead, the Browns are still the Browns. They passed up the chance to draft one of the most talented football players ever.
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Hunter is the best wide receiver in this class. Hunter is the best cornerback in this class.
And while he won't play both ways on every single snap like he did at Colorado, you best believe he's going to play both ways.
Hunter loves being out there on both sides of the ball so much he said he'd rather retire than play only one way.
That's the kind of player that the Browns needed to turn this whole ship around.
who needs Travis Hunter* anyway
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 24, 2025
*the best ball skills & instincts of any prospect in years and was the best defensive player in college football last year with a 4.4 40 who is a true unicorn and excels on both sides of the ball, forced an incredible missed tackle rate with an…
Browns GM Andrew Berry compared Hunter to Shohei Ohtani, who by pretty much any measure is the most talented baseball player ever given his prowess as a hitter and a pitcher.
The Browns could've gotten their Ohtani. Instead, they gave him up to the Jags.
Cleveland might've just written another terrible chapter.
Of course, the pick haul in return for Hunter could work out great. But it could also fail, especially if the Jags' 2026 first-rounder isn't in the top-five.
The Browns have been here before.
This is the team that has started 40 different QBs since 1999. They swung and missed on Johnny Manziel. They swung and missed bigger on Watson.
They traded away Baker Mayfield, just to watch him become a Buccaneers star.
They had one of the greatest left tackles ever, Joe Thomas, and never went to the playoffs with him.
And now, they could've had Hunter, who would've been the most special player to ever don a Browns uniform, at least by some measures.
I hope history doesn't repeat itself https://t.co/EkkcOcVsDh pic.twitter.com/4ztjFKIg2t
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 24, 2025
But they passed him up.
The Browns gave up their chance to take the guy who could be the most unique and special player of his generation.
And like usual, the Browns made the wrong choice. Why are we even surprised?
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