Browns owner explains why they passed on Travis Hunter

You could hear the collective gasp from Buff Nation when Travis Hunter’s name wasn’t called by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Instead, it was the Jacksonville Jaguars who made the aggressive move, trading up to grab the most electrifying player in college football. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner. The two-way unicorn. The heart and soul of the Colorado Buffaloes. Gone to Duval.

And we were all left wondering, why on earth would the Browns pass on that?

Well, now we know.

“Too Good to Pass Up”?

Jimmy Haslam, Browns owner and decision-maker extraordinaire, finally gave us the reasoning. And look, he didn’t sugarcoat it.

“Travis Hunter is a special football player… not a good, but a great kid,” Haslam said. “But the offer to move back and gain picks? It was too good to pass up.”

Translation? They loved Hunter. They saw the potential. They knew the hype wasn’t just hype. But when the Jaguars came knocking with a package of picks—including a future first-rounder—the Browns blinked.

They took the deal. They moved back three spots and picked up Michigan DT Mason Graham at No. 5. A great player in his own right, sure. But not Travis Hunter.

Hunter Was Built for the Big Stage

We watched him dominate at Folsom. We saw the sideline catches, the interceptions, the 110-snap performances. He was Colorado football the past two years.

Hunter averaged over 100 snaps per game. He led the team in receiving yards and made highlight plays on defense. He did it with flair and when the lights were the brightest, he shined even brighter.

So yeah, watching him hold up a Jaguars jersey on draft night hit different.

Could've Been a Buffalo Reunion

Here’s where the knife twists: the Browns did draft a Buff. Shedeur Sanders, was taken in the fifth round and is already in the mix for the starting job in Cleveland.

Now imagine a Browns offense with Shedeur throwing deep balls to Travis.

Imagine a defense where Hunter lines up across from the league’s best while his college teammate leads the huddle.

It was right there.

And the Browns walked away from it.

A Gamble on the Future

To be fair, Haslam’s explanation makes sense in a business way. Trade back, pick up extra assets, and still land a solid player. It’s the classic “trust the process” move.

But here’s the thing about “process”—you don't pass up on once-in-a-lifetime players like Travis Hunter.

The Jaguars weren’t interested in patience. New GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen came in swinging. Four wins last year? Irrelevant. They’re building around a once-in-a-generation athlete who is transforming the game.

Jacksonville went from rebuilding to must-watch overnight. That’s what Hunter does.

The Real Question: Who Wins the Trade?

This will be debated for years. If Graham becomes a Pro Bowl force next to Myles Garrett, and if those extra picks turn into stars, maybe Cleveland walks away clean.

But if Travis becomes what we all know he can be—a two-way legend, a face-of-the-league type guy—then the Browns may have passed on more than a player.

They passed on a movement.

They passed on Prime’s culture, the Buffs resurgence, and a ready-made storyline that would’ve sold jerseys from Cleveland to Boulder.

And trust me—we won’t forget it.

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