The Jacksonville Jaguars always had their eyes on Travis Hunter. From the beginning, he was at the top of their draft board. Hunter is a game-changing talent they believe could redefine their team.
But there was just one problem: the Tennessee Titans. Holding a crucial draft position, the Titans had the power to snatch Hunter away or demand a steep price.
The Jaguars found themselves in an uncomfortable spot at the mercy of their division rivals. What followed was a tense waiting game, filled with backroom negotiations and high-stakes strategy.
The Plan to Land a Generational Talent
The Jaguars had their sights set on Travis Hunter early, and the plan to land him was already in motion by April. “Early April, James [Gladstone] came up with the idea. All three of us (HC, GM, and EVP) love Travis Hunter, and we would love to see him in a Jaguar Jersey,” said the Jaguars’ EVP and franchise legend Tony Boselli.
From there, trade talks began to take shape. As the Jags were at No. 5, they knew that if they were to trade Travis, they had to trade up and hope for the best. “James came to Liam and I were sitting in the draft room, and he says, ‘You think about maybe making a phone call to Cleveland and New York…?’”
The thinking was simple: “If we have a chance to go get a generational talent… I think it’s a great idea.”
How the Jaguars Used Silence as Strategy
While rumors swirled around the NFL draft, the Jaguars’ front office kept their true intentions hidden in plain sight.
General Manager James Gladstone was the calm at the center of the storm: “I’ve long been someone who moves deliberately and quietly and with poise, and I think that this process was a reflection of that.”
The team employed subtle tactics to guard their direction: “We have a lot of additional mechanisms that we deploy that don’t necessarily put us at risk… because so often those become public… At which point you’re sacrificing… strategy.”
Simply put, “We actually try not to have any sort of movement become public knowledge,” Gladstone said at a press conference.
How Speculation Became the Perfect Smoke Screen
As the Jaguars quietly maneuvered behind the scenes, the media unknowingly played right into their hands. “I thought it was fun listening to all the different rumors and the speculation, and stuff on X that would go viral,” said Boselli.
The endless chatter created a fog of uncertainty, exactly what the front office hoped for. “To me, it was like, okay, this is working perfectly because they are going to do the work for us to send out smoke screens.”
While reporters chased shadows, the Jaguars stayed locked in on their real target, Travis Hunter.
How the Jaguars Did Their Homework on Travis Hunter
The Jaguars weren’t just impressed by Travis Hunter’s highlights, they had done deep homework on the person behind the player. “We knew all about Travis Hunter by the people who had lived with Travis Hunter, the people who had coached him, the people who had trained him, the people who had been around him,” Boselli added.
This insider insight gave the team unmatched confidence in their decision. They weren’t betting on hype. They were investing in someone they understood on a personal level, thanks to trusted voices who had shaped and witnessed Hunter’s journey firsthand.
The Jaguars Were at the Mercy of the Titans
Everything the Jaguars had worked for came down to one unpredictable factor: the Tennessee Titans. “I think the most tension I felt was making sure Tennessee was going to pick Cam Ward because that’s what the whole deal hinged on.”
The Jaguars had their game plan locked in, but the Titans’ choice held all the cards. “We knew our position and what we wanted to. So, the only real variable out there was the Tennessee Titans and Cam Ward.”
One executive put it plainly, “Executing it wasn’t at our mercy, which is always a little bit of a challenge.”
As draft night ticked on, the nerves built, “You’re sitting there just waiting. You’re at the mercy of another organization… You feel confident, but you can’t be 100% confident…”
James Gladstone’s Private Conversation With Travis Hunter
In his conversation with Travis Hunter, James Gladstone delivered a powerful message that reflected the Jaguars’ belief in both his talent and character.
“We believe that you got that capacity, but maintain your humility because that’s a special thing about you.”
He encouraged Hunter to stay grounded: “When you get with your teammates, continue to be nothing more than who you are.”
Gladstone knew that authenticity would have a ripple effect: “By doing that, you’re going to elevate the space. Not just on the football field, but the city and the game of football itself.”
For the Jaguars, landing Travis Hunter wasn’t just a draft win. It was the beginning of a cultural shift.