It’s been a long time since the Cleveland Browns decided not to select Travis Hunter with their first pick, despite holding the second overall position in the NFL Draft, a decision that will undoubtedly shape the future of the franchise and only time will tell if they made the right call.
General Manager Andrew Berry surprised everyone with an unexpected trade, passing on the second pick and two others to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for picks 5, 36, and 126, plus the Jaguars’ first-round pick in 2026. This move allowed them to bring in Mason Graham, along with running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson.
Did the Browns Plan for the Future Correctly?
It was expected that this decision would spark divided opinions among analysts and fans, though passing on a “generational” talent like Travis Hunter enabled the Browns to address future team needs.
To explain it better, General Managers James Gladstone and Andrew Berry spoke on the CBS Sports podcast “With the First Pick” to detail the reasoning behind this move.
“One of the alternative paths is you take a non-quarterback, potentially the best player in the draft with Travis, someone the league really hasn’t seen before in terms of a two-way player,” Berry said. “Then the third avenue, which you’ve seen teams like Philadelphia and Detroit walk this route, where you’re able to take a very good player, but significantly increase the amount of resources that you have to rebuild your team over a multi-year time horizon.”
The Browns managed to draft one of their favorite players in the NFL Draft, Mason Graham from Michigan, with the fifth overall pick. They’re also betting that the Jaguars will have another tough season, securing a high 2026 draft pick.
“I remember telling James, ‘We’re in a position where we’re probably gonna either take a quarterback or we’ll take the best player in the draft. For us to move off the pick, it’s gotta be something significant that really helps our organization over the long run,'” Berry said. “And James was serious because Travis is a really good player. I would be shocked if he’s not a really good player for a long time in Jacksonville. For us, where our team’s life cycle was, we felt like that was a real meaningful opportunity for us to get another very good player, but really replenish the resources we have to build the team over this year and next.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns had tough seasons in 2024, with a combined 7-27 record, so both are looking to bounce back. However, both general managers are confident that their recent trade will be highly beneficial for both franchises.
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