By Mike Farrell
1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded with Cleveland to move up three spots and take Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Coming into the draft, the Jaguars had needs at cornerback and wide receiver, and filled those needs with one pick. Whether he starts at cornerback or receiver, Hunter will see snaps on both sides of the ball.
The two-way star played over 1,400 snaps for Colorado in 2024 at CB and WR. In his three-year college career, he had nine interceptions and 22 pass breakups while winning the 2024 Chuck Bednarik Award as the defensive player of the year. Hunter won the Fred Biletnikoff Award for most outstanding receiver when he totaled 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024.
Travis Hunter must have woken up Friday morning thinking he had won the lottery. Because Jacksonville traded up to draft Hunter, he gets to return to his home state of Florida, and he’s not a Cleveland Brown.
2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders took Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick in the draft. There has been a recent decline in the draft value of running backs over the past few years. But with the seasons, NFL running backs like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry had in 2024, teams are paying more attention to that position. The Raiders jumped at the chance to take Jeanty with their first pick.
Jeanty is a physically dominant running back at 5’8”, 211 lbs. Defenders missed 151 tackles on his runs last season. He rushed for 2,601 yards (28 yards shy of the NCAA record), with a 7.0 average, and 29 touchdowns. He is also a good receiver out of the backfield with 80 receptions, for 862 yards, and six touchdowns in his career. Jeanty won the Maxwell Award (top college player), Doak Walker Award (top RB), was named a unanimous AP All-American, and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
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3. OL Tyler Booker, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys were in need of help on the offensive line, and they got it with the 12th pick and Alabama guard Tyler Booker. He is expected to step in at right guard for nine-time Pro Bowler Zack Martin, who retired during the offseason. At 6’5” 321 lbs, and with long arms and a wide wingspan, Booker is an exceptional run and pass blocker.
Booker played in 12 games as a freshman, earning him Freshman All-SEC honors. In 2023, he started 12 games at left guard and was named second-team All-SEC. During his junior year, Booker started all 13 games, 12 at left guard, one at left tackle. He was named first-team All-SEC and second-team AP All-American.
4. CB Maxwell Hairston, Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills had the 30th pick in this year’s draft and used it to pick the best cornerback not named Travis Hunter, Maxwell Hairston. The Bills needed to shore up the back end of the defense, and they did with the two-time All-SEC corner out of Kentucky.
Hairston became the starter going into his sophomore season in 2023. He had five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 68 tackles. In 2024, Hairston missed 5 games with a shoulder injury. He started 7 games, with 19 tackles, one sack, an interception returned for a touchdown, and 2 forced fumbles. The speedy (4.28 40 yd) Hairston showed great ball skills with six career interceptions.
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5. LB Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles
The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles thought enough of Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell to give up a fifth-round pick to move up one spot to take him with the 31st pick. He was expected to be off the board earlier in the draft, but likely fell to Philly because he had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in March. If Campbell is healthy by fall, he might be the steal of the draft.
Campbell started eight of the team’s 13 games as a sophomore in 2023 with 66 tackles and an interception. He started all 13 games, with 119 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, one Interception, and was named first-team All-SEC in 2024. Campbell played mostly inside linebacker for the Tide, but with his speed and athleticism, he may also be used as an edge rusher in pass situations.
