VAN NUYS, Calif. — Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone orchestrated what is bound to be the most stunning trade of the 2025 NFL Draft when they traded up to the second overall pick to land two-way star Travis Hunter.
The blockbuster trade caught many off guard, but not Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead.
Snead helped Gladstone scout the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, after all.
“Here’s what I can say. James always had an affinity for Mr. Hunter. I didn’t ever think it was realistic for him though,” Snead said. “I do know there was a moment in the last couple weeks where he was really asking… I was connecting him with a good friend of mine that knows Mr. Hunter well and I’m like, ‘James, what are you doing? Why were we wasting time?’
“I had a little inkling that maybe something was up.”
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Gladstone was an understudy to Snead before he landed Jacksonville’s general manager gig. He spent nine seasons with the Rams (2016-24) as the team’s director of scouting (2022-24) and director of scouting strategy (2019-22).
The first-year Jaguars GM might’ve learned his aggressive approach from Snead, who has built a reputation for dealing draft picks. The Rams have only had one first round pick since the 2017 draft because of multiple trades. Los Angeles dealt its first-round selection on Thursday night for a package of picks.
Gladstone and the Jags went all in and traded their first-round pick (No. 5), their second-round selection (No. 36), fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to acquire Hunter. Jacksonville received a fourth-round pick (No. 104) and a sixth-round pick (No. 200) in addition to the No. 2 overall selection used on Hunter in exchange.
“It definitely was fun to watch, because James (Gladstone) was here, from afar,” Snead said. “I call it ‘attack the aggressive.’ Obviously, they had a lot of passion for that player.”
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