Chris CwikContributing writerFri, April 24, 2026 at 3:51 PM UTC·5 min readThe Jacksonville Jaguars took a massive swing during the 2025 NFL Draft, trading up to the No. 2 spot to select Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter. It was a bold move, one that could singlehandedly determine the success or failure of the Jaguars in the short term.
But there was far more to that trade than just Hunter. Multiple other players were selected by the Jaguars and Cleveland Browns with the picks acquired by both teams in their blockbuster trade at last year’s draft. While most of those picks were limited to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Browns still held on to the Jaguars’ first-round pick in 2026. Cleveland made that selection Thursday night, officially closing the door on the compensation from the Hunter trade.
With that trade “officially” complete, here’s how each team used those picks:
At the beginning of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jaguars traded up from the No. 5 spot to the No. 2 spot to select Hunter. Here’s how the team used every draft pick involved in that trade.
• First-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft (No. 2 overall): WR/CB Travis Hunter• Fourth-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft (No. 144 overall): RB Bhayshul Tuten• Sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft (No. 200 overall): S Rayuan Lane III
The Jaguars’ trade was all about Hunter, who was billed as a unique, two-way superstar coming out of Colorado. Hunter showed off immense skills as both a wide receiver and cornerback in college, causing some teams to dream on a future where he became the NFL’s version of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
That didn’t quite come to fruition. Hunter was limited to just seven games as a rookie due to injury. He showed flashes at both positions, but the Jaguars reportedly plan to end Hunter’s two-way experiment after just one season, with reports suggesting he’ll be a full-time cornerback and occasional receiver moving forward.
While the move could work out, the decision essentially caps Hunter’s upside, making it harder to swallow the team’s decision to aggressively trade up for the former Colorado star. Some felt that could be the case shortly after the Hunter trade, with at least one AFC assistant calling it “horrible” shortly after the Jaguars made the move.
The team appears to have hit on Tuten in the fourth round. As a rookie, Tuten showed off some impressive skills, even though his numbers were ultimately muted. Still, Tuten showed the ability to be a good complimentary piece in the backfield, a fine result for a fourth-round player.
Lane made the Jaguars and played in all 17 games as a solid special teams player, another strong result considering he was taken in the sixth round.
• First-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft (No. 5 overall): DT Mason Graham• Second-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft (No. 36 overall): RB Quinshon Judkins• Fourth-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft (No. 126 overall): RB Dylan Sampson• First-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft (No. 24 overall): WR KC Concepcion
Graham’s rookie numbers don’t jump off the page, but that could be the result of being a defensive tackle. By the metrics, Graham had a pretty promising first season, ranking 31st in Pro Football Focus’ numbers. The Browns likely expect better moving forward, but Graham showed enough promise to maybe take that leap in Year 2. He wasn’t a bust.
Judkins dealt with off-the-field issues and a horrific injury as a rookie. When he was on the field, he looked like an excellent selection. There are concerns moving forward, not just with Judkins’ ability to bounce back after a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle, but also with his decision-making away from the field. It all could fall apart quickly, but Judkins looked like a strong player on the field in 2025.
Sampson, similarly, had strong moments as a complimentary, third-down back. Like Tuten, Sampson showed enough to justify his fourth-round status and should be a useful weapon for the Browns moving forward.
To officially close the deal, the Browns selected wideout KC Concepcion on Thursday night. The receiver was considered among the top receivers in the draft and should be the team’s No. 1 option immediately. The early returns suggest the Browns didn’t get a steal or overdraft Concepcion, making him a solid choice if draft evaluators are correct. Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald gave the pick a B-, citing Concepcion’s “playmaking ability down the field” as a strong addition for the Browns.
It’s always a big risk to trade up near the top of the NFL Draft. In order for the move to payoff, the team moving up needs to be extremely confident in its selection and the player drafted needs to be an absolute superstar.
Hunter showed encouraging flashes, but the team’s willingness to already end the two-way experiment throws cold water on the idea that he’s a once-in-a-lifetime superstar. That doesn’t mean it was a bad deal, as Hunter could develop into an exceptional cornerback, but it suggests maybe the Jaguars already acknowledge his ceiling is capped. The other two pieces in the trade — Tuten and Lane — seem like fine players. Unless Hunter completely flops, the Jaguars didn’t embarrass themselves.
The Browns, however, look to have gotten a better return for now. Graham was fine as a rookie and could still develop. Judkins looked like a star, though there’s a lot of risk with him moving forward. Sampson is essentially the same as Tuten, making the two cancel each other out. And while there’s no guarantee Concepcion will work out, his selection seems fine.
All of this, of course, comes with the massive caveat that none of these players are finished products just yet. Hunter could become a generational talent at cornerback, completely validating the Jaguars’ assessment even if he’s limited to just one position. Concepcion could become the next Amon-Ra St. Brown, a scrappy pest who can infuriate a defense with his quick breaks and toughness.
Truly evaluating this trade at this point would be foolish. For now, though, the Browns’ approach of picking up multiple picks for the No. 2 selection seems wise.