JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars/NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks discusses the Jaguars’ 2025 NFL Draft class with senior writer John Oehser as this weekend's rookie minicamp approaches at the Miller Electric Center…
Oehser: We'll discuss the trade for wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter next. First, what was your overall takeaway of the class?
Brooks: First thing that stands out: Good dudes who love ball. When you ask people who know them well about their backgrounds and character … all are great people, and they exhibit a great work effort. They opt into things that are optional. They love ball and all the things required to be really good ballplayers. When you talk about changing the culture or creating a work-hard, play-hard environment, the best way to create that is to naturally bring in guys who already do those things, who already work hard and already play hard. Now it's not about the coaches urging people to do it. Those people do it because that's how they're wired.
Oehser: First-year General Manager James Gladstone clearly targeted that sort of player. Is it impressive to have gotten that message across to the personnel department – and to have drafted true to his vision – two months into the job?
Brooks: It speaks volumes about his wisdom and maturity beyond his years, his clear understanding of who he is and what type of team he and [Head Coach] Liam [Coen] and [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Tony [Boselli] want. When you're very clear on, "Hey, this is the type of team that we're going to be, these are the type of players that we have to have on our team to create that type of team," then it makes it very easy for you to make decisions because if the players fit, they're on it and if they don't, they're not for us. They've made decisions based on keeping that standard in mind: "This is who we're going to be. These are the players that we want and we're not deviating from the standards."
Oehser: We've talked about identity around here for years. Is this a path to a team with an identity?
Brooks: That's really important when it comes to the identity of the team and what it is that we want and how we want to operate. If you want to be that team that we talk about – a play-hard, work-hard team – those guys have to do it. The front office, coaching staff and everyone around the building is beginning to understand, "OK, we're serious about this identity and all the decisions that we make are about making sure we stay true to that identity."
Oehser: Your thoughts on selecting Hunter No. 2 overall…
Brooks: I love the pick because I think he's so unique. We can talk about all the dazzling things he does on the field. He is a two-way superstar, a guy that can play at an All-Pro level on either side of the ball, but he has face-of-the-franchise qualities and characteristics. He is the type of guy you want to trot out there as the model citizen, the guy who can set the example for everyone who comes after him about how they approach their business, how they come to work every day, the enthusiasm and energy they bring to the field every day … he does all of that. Outside of being a great player, he has those intangibles you want from your best players. On the best teams, your best players set the best examples as leaders. He has all those qualities and it won't be long before he is one of the team leaders that everyone respects around a locker room.
Oehser: Because they traded their second-round selection in the trade for Hunter, the rest of the Jaguars' draft was third round and later. How did they do getting value from that situation?
Brooks: One thing you look for when you're drafting third round or later, you're looking for guys who have redeeming qualities that can be developed to enable those players to be starters. When I look at some of the guys that that were drafted, all those guys have multiple qualities and characteristics that could make them potential starters. As you're building that out and you're trying to create opportunities for the young guys to get on the field, it's about finding ways to put players in a position to play to their strengths. It's a combination of scheme, environment and player. When all of those things mesh, then you have some guys that are late-round picks yet outplay their draft position because they're in a situation that really allows them to play at their best.
Oehser: Tell me about Round 4 running back Bhayshul Tuten from Virginia Tech.
Brooks: If you want to be able to score points, you have to have guys who can make explosive plays. The quickest way to have guys make explosive plays is to have explosive players touch the ball. Bhayshul Tuten is an explosive player who can score from anywhere on the field. The speed (4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash) that we saw the [NFL Scouting] Combine is real because it also shows up on tape. He put together a bunch of big plays on tape and he has a chance to be a really good player and a really impactful player early because of his speed and athleticism.
Oehser: In what way was this draft a change in approach?
Brooks: What it appears the Jaguars are doing is going away from being a projection-based program to a production-based program, meaning that the players brought in have a track record of producing. It's not just, "He has the measurable and prototypical traits." Yes, he has those traits, but he also has production to match what we're seeing that he is going to be.' In the new era of college football, where you have guys go from the lower ranks to the mid-ranks to the top ranks [because of the transfer portal], now you get a chance to really track how they perform. We get a chance to see them advance and move up. Do they dominate on that level? Then, if they have another opportunity to move up, do they dominate that level because typically their habits translate. If someone dominated every level that they play on, more than likely they're going to have dominating traits in the NFL.
