The 2025 NFL Draft was set up to be a strange affair. It lacked the usual slew of top-20 or even top-10 star power that drafts often possess. Instead, it was surprisingly deep at a few positions, like running back and defensive line, which made it unpredictable.
Nearly every mock draft had quarterback Cam Ward going first overall to the Tennessee Titans. Even though at least two players, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, were thought to be more talented than Ward, the Titans were quarterback-starved and selected as predicted.
The Cleveland Browns possessed the second overall pick, and that’s where the debates began. Many mocks expected them to try to solve their quarterback crisis by drafting Shedeur Sanders, while others thought they might give themselves Hunter, the only true two-way player the league has seen in years.
Neither of those happened. Instead, the Browns chose to try to increase their opportunities by trading that No. 2 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In one of the boldest moves of the draft, the Jaguars moved up and selected Hunter.
Travis Hunter’s Mom Pours Out Her Heart in Emotional Tribute
Hunter has had an exciting few months—from the Colorado Pro Day and meeting with teams to hearing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell call his name. He has done so much recently and displays so much talent that it is easy to forget just how young he is. In fact, Hunter just turned 22 on May 18, and his mother, Ferrante Edmonds, shared a heartwarming post to her son on her Instagram.
“Happy 22nd Birthday to My Son Travis, My Legacy, My Heart in Human Form!” said Edmonds on her Instagram. “Today, I pause to give God glory for the gift of YOU. From the moment I first held you in my arms, I knew I was looking at greatness. You’ve always been a light — not just to me, but to this world. Your strength, your kindness, your humility, your hustle, your heart — it all reflects a purpose far greater than you even realize.”
This isn’t the first, and surely won’t be the last, time that Edmonds takes to social media to express her pride in her son’s accomplishments. When he was drafted, she shared her respect for his perseverance, dedication, and commitment.
View this post on Instagram
Mom isn’t the only person to brag about how wonderful Hunter is. In a social media post on X after the draft, a woman named Sandy Hawkins Combs sat beside him on his flight and bragged about how humble and kind he was to her.
One big question remains: how will Jacksonville decide to deploy Hunter? During his time with the Colorado Buffaloes, Hunter played both wide receiver and cornerback, and played them both very well. While some NFL insiders believe that the Jaguars will first use him as a weapon for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, others think he is more valuable on defense.
It seems unlikely that Hunter will play both ways the majority of the time. He might have been successful with that in college, but the NFL requires a much different level of expectation and preparation. Regardless of how they use him, Hunter brings significant talent to Jacksonville, and football fans everywhere are eager to see him play.
