Inside the Controversial Draft Trade: Why Experts Say the Jaguars Could Regret Their Move

So, the Jacksonville Jaguars have rolled the dice—and big time—by trading up to snag Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall. Now, this kind of seismic move screams “all in,” especially with James Gladstone, fresh off the aggressive Rams’ playbook, running the show in Jax. But here’s the kicker: do you ever wonder if trading a king’s ransom for a rare player is genuinely wise, or just a glorified game of high-stakes poker? Analyst Steve Fezzik certainly leans toward the latter, suggesting that while Hunter is unquestionably a game-changer on paper—covering both wide receiver and cornerback roles—it’s a Herculean task to expect him to deliver top-level performance on every snap. It’s the classic dilemma: is the Jaguars’ gamble on Hunter a stroke of genius or a blueprint for future regrets? Let’s unpack the drama, the daring, and the delicious uncertainty wrapped up in this bold move.

The Jacksonville Jaguars needed to make a big move to kick off this new era.

GM James Gladstone comes from the Los Angeles Rams, and they’re not usually afraid to swing for the fences to try and get better now with aggressive moves, even at the expense of jeopardizing the future.

That’s why it wasn’t that surprising to see them offer a huge trade package to move up to No. 2 and get Travis Hunter.

Nevertheless, as good a player as Hunter is, Steve Fezzik wasn’t a fan of this move.

Talking on the “Ross Tucker Podcast,” he argued that the Jaguars had to give up a king’s ransom to get him, and while he expects him to make an immediate impact, the first-round pick they traded might be as valuable as the one they had this year.

“Whenever you trade up in the draft, you have to pay a king’s ransom,” Fezzik said.

“Whenever you trade up in the draft, you have to pay a king's ransom.”@FezzikSports discusses why he disliked the Jaguars trading up for Travis Hunter: pic.twitter.com/bekkUl24HU

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 1, 2025

More than that, he doesn’t know whether Hunter will be able to play consistently on both sides of the field as he expects.

Hunter is a unique kind of player, and if any team was going to take a risk to get a player, it should’ve always been him.

Then again, the Jaguars will have to be extremely careful with him.

On paper, he will solve their two biggest needs, which were another playmaking wide receiver and a lockdown cornerback.

In reality, it’s hard to believe he will be able to play every snap and still perform at an elite level.

Even if he does, that kind of wear and tear could shorten his career, but he was definitely worth the gamble.

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