The Cleveland Browns were all lined up to take Travis Hunter.
And then they shocked the NFL Draft by trading down.
Five-and-a-half months later, the repercussions of that choice have really begun to take shape.
Hunter is playing two ways for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but not all the time, as they attempt to figure out his best usage.
Meanwhile, the Browns have two strong contributors that they got from that deal, with one prime pick still to go.
If it looked initially like the Browns could regret dealing away the rights to take Hunter at No. 2 overall, the regret might not be there anymore.
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Travis Hunter trade details
After the Tennessee Titans chose Cam Ward No. 1 overall in April's 2025 NFL Draft, the Browns and Jaguars made a trade:
- Jaguars get: No. 2 overall pick (Travis Hunter)
- Browns get: No. 5 overall pick (Mason Graham), No. 36 overall pick (Quinshon Judkins), 2026 first-round pick of Jacksonville
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Why Browns' Travis Hunter trade return is aging well
The Browns didn't know for sure who they'd get at Nos. 5 and 36 when they moved off of the Hunter position, but so far, they've gotten what they would've wanted.
In the defensive tackle Mason Graham, they've got a player who has already been stout in run defense and has shown improvement week-to-week as an interior pass rusher.
Judkins missed the first week after a drawn out contract saga and off-field trouble, but he has looked like a star running back since getting onto the field.
And the 2026 first-rounder belonging to the Jags is a great resource that could, if Cleveland wants, help the Browns get a QB, potentially in conjunction with Cleveland's own first-rounder to work a trade to the top of the draft board.
If the Browns get three long-term starters out of this trade, that feels like a win, especially if one or two of them are stars.
Hunter could still be a superstar, but it's been a bit bumpy so far. Cleveland probably doesn't mind having players that they know exactly where on the field to play.
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