Did The Browns Rob The Jaguars In NFL Draft Night Trade?

The biggest splash in the early moments of the 2025 NFL Draft could heavily alter the futures of two different franchises. In order to move up and select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave up a king’s ransom in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Massive Draft Trade Could Alter Futures Of Two NFL Franchises

And unless Hunter becomes the generational player that he is expected to be, it appears that Jacksonville may have given up too much to pick him.

Hunter was widely projected to be the second overall pick, no matter which team was making the selection. The Browns happened to occupy the spot, making Cleveland the favorite to be the first home in the NFL for the wide receiver/cornerback prospect. Essentially every mock draft had that as something of a foregone conclusion.

Jaguars are expected to play their first-round draft pick Travis Hunter on offense and defense. They will on-board him by giving him a heavy dose of the wide receiver position while still playing him at his more natural position on defense. Two positions for pick No. 2.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025

But while they were on the clock, Cleveland moved out of the number two spot. After weeks of quietly denying trade rumors, the Browns struck a deal with the Jaguars, and set themselves up with assets this year and next.

Here are the details:

Browns Receive:

2025 1st Round Pick – 5th overall

2025 2nd Round Pick – 36th overall

2025 4th Round Pick – 126th overall

2026 1st Round Pick

Jaguars Receive:

2025 1st Round Pick – 2nd overall

2025 4th Round Pick – 104th overall

2025 6th Round Pick – 200th overall

The motivation for the Jaguars is obvious. They moved up three spots in order to select one of the most unique NFL Draft prospects that we have seen in recent years, and filled a glaring need at the same time by bolstering their talent at cornerback.

But did they give up too much?

Browns Stack Valuable Assets For Both 2025 & 2026

The Browns are hoping that they can turn the haul into a franchise-changing draft class in both 2025 and 2026. They ultimately moved down just three spots, keeping a top-5 pick and selecting the best defensive lineman prospect in this year’s class in Michigan’s Mason Graham.

They also picked up what is one of the most valuable second round picks this year. In addition to their own selection, which happens to be the first of Day 2 (33rd overall), the Browns now have the 36th overall pick as well. It gives them more chances at taking one of the handful of quarterbacks that are projected as early second rounders, which would satisfy a crucial need for the team at the position.

even if the Jaguars win the Super Bowl and the Browns only get the Jaguars #32 pick next year, Cleveland still wins this trade based on value by all measures

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 25, 2025

But the real crown jewel of the trade will come next season. In addition to the assets that Jacksonville sent for this year’s selection process, they also gave up their first round pick in 2026. And unless the Jaguars experience a serious turnaround during the 2025 NFL season, that pick could hold a top-15 or perhaps even top-10 value.

The teams also swapped fourth rounders in this year’s draft.

If Travis Hunter winds up being a generational talent, then it will likely be seen as a successful trade up for the Jaguars. But whether he does or not, the Browns appear to be the early winners of the trade, which we won’t know the totality of until the 2026 NFL Draft.