Former Jacksonville Jaguars' running back Maurice Jones-Drew put together his first mock draft for NFL.com, and available at pick No. 5 was Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. However, the Jaguars went in a different direction.
Instead of taking Hunter, the Jaguars picked Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
"Head coach Liam Coen aims to replicate what he had in Tampa with a pair of talented receivers at the center of his offense," wrote Jones-Drew. "Joining second-year pro Brian Thomas Jr., McMillan is a big receiver (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) with the ball skills and physicality to make contested catches."
McMillan has been highly active in the Arizona offense the last two seasons, totaling a hefty 260 targets during that stretch. He would haul in 67% of those passes and an impressive 15.6 yards per catch with 18 touchdowns, according to PFF.
In 2024 specifically, McMillan had 1,316 receiving yards--the second-most in college football.
McMillan and Brian Thomas Jr. would give the Jaguars two receivers who can attack all levels of the field, along with playing both inside and out. This then gives Liam Coen a variety of ways that he can attack opposing defenses.
With all that said, I'm not sure how you pass on Hunter, who can also provide a dynamic and versatile presence at receiver, while also being the starting cornerback as well.
On both sides of the ball, Hunter's ball production has been impressive. He caught 79% of his 121 targets in 2024 on offense and had four interceptions, seven pass breakups, and allowed a completion rate of just 56% on defense as a cornerback.
During the NFL league meetings, Coen was asked about Hunter playing both offense and defense at the NFL level.
“I think you have to be fluid as an organization,” Coen said via Jaguars on Sports Illustrated. "Because of his diversity, what he can do, the amount of snaps he plays.
"He's going to play both sides of the ball and that has to be an organizational buy-in from the coaches, the strength staff, the athletic training, sports performance, everybody has to be involved, as well as the coaches."
At two of the bigger positions of need that the Jaguars still have, Hunter could provide a high-impact presence at both cornerback and receiver.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: NFL mock draft: Jaguars pass on Travis Hunter, pick Tetairoa McMillan
