Night one of the NFL Draft is over, and it was an exciting evening, particularly later in the first round. Several surprising trades were made, such as the New York Giants trading up to select Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick, and the Atlanta Falcons moving up to secure another edge rusher to improve their lackluster defensive line from the previous year.
The first big surprise of the night came when the Cleveland Browns traded the second overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. This move allowed the Jags to select Travis Hunter, a player who has expressed a strong desire to play both sides of the ball throughout his career. If he doesn't get that opportunity, Hunter has made a bold threat.
“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter said. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
Hunter is widely regarded as a generational talent, and many believe playing both offense and defense will eventually wear him down. However, he isn’t backing down from his request. But after head coach Liam Coen revealed his plans, Hunter may be tempted to retire before even stepping on the field.
“We’ll have a plan right now of [him playing] primarily on offense, with him learning the defensive system and practicing on the defensive side of the ball as well throughout this offseason program,” Coen said.
While Jacksonville traded up to secure Hunter, it was the Dallas Cowboys that was urged to trade up. The Cowboys would have done anything to ensure the Colorado standout was content. Now, it seems the Jaguars are walking a fine line, especially considering that Hunter has already threatened to walk away from football if his wishes aren’t met.
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Hunter and his teammate Shedeur Sanders both had their jerseys retired at Colorado, which speaks volumes about Hunter’s immense talent. The wide receiver and cornerback is eager to make a name for himself.