Portugal Colonial - Titans take QB Ward, Jags trade up for two-way star Hunter

The annual allocation of NFL rights for top college talent was held in front of thousands of fans gathered outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the Green Bay Packers.

The Titans were handed the top draft spot ahead of Cleveland at second and the New York Giants picking third after all three finished an NFL-worst 3-14 last season.

Ward, a 22-year-old from Texas, completed 305 of 454 passes for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns with only seven interceptions and ran 60 times for 204 yards and four touchdowns for the Hurricanes last season.

But that pick, widely expected, was quickly overshadowed by the Jaguars trading for Cleveland's number two pick in order to secure Hunter.

The cornerback and wide receiver won the Heisman Trophy last year after his outstanding performances on offense and defense for the University of Colorado.

Such two-way players are rare in the NFL and in college Hunter was coached by one of the best known, former Dallas Cowboys star Deion Sanders

In order to get Hunter, Jacksonville handed the 2025 number five overall pick, the 36th pick (second round), the 126th pick (fourth round) and a 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for the second pick in the draft, the 104th pick (fourth round) and 200th pick (sixth round).

The New York Giants used the third pick to take Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter while the New England Patriots took Louisiana State University's offensive tackle Will Campbell with the fourth pick.

The Browns used the fifth pick they gained from Jacksonville to grab defensive tackle Mason Graham out of Michigan.

M.A.Vaz--PC