Grading the Browns, Jaguars Trade: Cleveland passes on Travis Hunter for a haul of draft picks from Jacksonville

The Cleveland Browns held the keys to really starting the draft at No. 2 with QB Cam Ward a lock to go to the Tennessee Titans. All eyes have been on what the Browns would decide to do with that pick. Over the last couple of weeks, the feeling has been that the Browns would […]

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer

Apr 24, 2025 8:25 PM EDT

Over the last couple of weeks, the feeling has been that the Browns would take Colorado WR/CB with the No. 2 pick.

Cleveland is now dropping from pick No. 2 down to No. 5 in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

ESPN Sources:

?Browns are trading the No. 2 overall pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 104), and a sixth-round pick (No. 200) to the Jaguars.

?Jaguars are trading the No. 5 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their 2026 first-round pick… pic.twitter.com/9J3QPHqhhU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025

Grading the Browns' trade

Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 5 overall), 2025 second-round pick (No. 36 overall), 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 126 overall), 2026 first-round pick

Jaguars get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 2 overall), 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 104 overall), 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 20 overall)

? ?????:
• #Browns are trading the No. 2 overall pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 104), and a sixth-round pick (No. 200) to the Jaguars.

• #Jaguars are trading the No. 5 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their 2026 first-round…
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) April 25, 2025

Grade: C-

Cleveland got a haul to move on from the right to draft Hunter. It is a tough move for Cleveland, who needs more premier talent on their roster at this time. In this draft there are two blue-chip players in my opinion, Hunter and Abdul Carter. Browns passed on taking both for more picks and that’s tough coming off of a 3-14 season. According to the Rich Hill trade chart, the Browns won the trade +136, which is equivalent to the No. 36 pick in the draft. Still, the Browns have to draft players for it to pan out and matter.

Trade downs have often blown up in the face of the Browns and they passed up a generational talent to do it. Cleveland once traded the rights to draft Julio Jones and we know how that went. Cleveland must hit on the majority of their draft picks this year to make fans forget this one. There is no other way around it.