Somewhere out there, Travis Hunter is having a great day. And why wouldn’t he? The Jaguars have given up an arm and a leg to trade up for this star. Arm and a leg? Yep. They traded up from the 5th position with the Cleveland Browns, their 36th overall (second round) pick, 126th overall (fourth round) pick, as well as a 2026 first-round pick. What’d they get aside from the 2nd overall pick? They got the 104th and 200th picks (fourth and sixth rounds). And of course, they got the Colorado double threat and Heisman Trophy winner – Travis Hunter.
Hunter had once said, “I like to show people that I’m going to be on a straight line, I’m not going to mess up or do anything out of the ordinary to jeopardize anything. – If you’re working towards something you really love, it’s not hard at all.” And now, with his rookie career in the NFL finally kicking off, Hunter’s aiming for greatness. And who better to aim for the stars with than a brand that has been shaping the narratives of star NFL names like Terrell Owens, Deion Sanders, Stefon Diggs, DK Metcalf, and Erin Andrews, to name just a few? We are, of course, talking about SMAC Entertainment.
Constance Schwartz-Morini and NFL legend Michael Strahan co-founded SMAC Entertainment. And if you have been following their page at all, you know they go way back with Travis Hunter. He became the first brand ambassador for Michael Strahan’s clothing brand back in 2022 as part of his NIL deal. At the time Strahan had said, “Travis Hunter is a game-changer on and off the football field… – I admire this young man and look forward to watching his continued growth.” And that’s exactly what Strahan did. He continued to watch over Hunter’s growth. Since then, Hunter has been a frequent face in SMAC’s socials and campaigns. But now, as Hunter goes pro with the NFL, SMAC is going to continue repping him for endorsements and deals.
Since the draft buzz started, they have been actively pushing Hunter’s name out there. From highlighting his Heisman Trophy win to dropping a reel of his swag as he reached the draft. When Travis got drafted on Thursday, they shared a post on Instagram celebrating his success. The caption goes, “Congratulations to Travis Hunter on being the 2nd overall draft pick to the @jaguars tonight! Travis, your hard work, heart, and hustle have brought you here, this is only the beginning and we are honored to represent you and help build your legacy off the field.” The post features a poster of Hunter, a clip of when his name was called, a picture of him holding the No. 1 Jaguars Jersey, and some candid pictures of his joy.
Travis Hunter is often touted as a ‘generational talent’ and SMAC has called him “NFL’s next marketing unicorn”. With their support and guidance, Hunter’s name is sure to spread like wildfire as this season picks up more pace. And while he celebrates this historic milestone of his career, Michael Strahan has also spoken up about this star in the making.
Michael Strahan on Travis Hunter’s NFL role
Michael Strahan has been nothing short of outspoken and loud when it comes to praising this kid. And why not? Playing as a cornerback and a receiver, he’s the kind of dual threat most teams would fight very hard to get. Case in point – The Jaguars giving up their 2026 first-round pick to the Browns. If you can get a guy who plays both offense and defense, why wouldn’t you bet the future on him? As ESPN’s Adam Schefter puts it, “Jaguars are expected to play their first-round draft pick Travis Hunter on offense and defense – They will on-board him by giving him a heavy dose of the wide receiver position while still playing him at his more natural position on defense. Two positions for pick No. 2.” But before Hunter’s draft on Thursday, Strahan sort of had other plans for him.
On the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Strahan was asked if he’s letting Hunter play both sides of the ball. Strahan’s reply? “I would, but not all the time. I think he’s more of an impact as a wide receiver, He’s a shutdown type corner, but I just think, if you’re going to use his energy, I would use it as a wideout. Put him with Nabers, would d— near be impossible to stop.” Strahan was, of course, talking about Malik Nabers, the Giants‘ wide receiver. At the time, there was a lot of talk about Travis going to that team, but the Giants were far down on the list, and the Jaguars snatched him up fast.
Jaguars’ GM James Gladstone’s move to trade up for Hunter is being called a bold decision, and he’s confident in Hunter’s ability to deliver the dual threat his team needs. In his own words, “There are players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of a team. There are very few players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of the sport itself.” The NFL world expects great things from him, and he knows it, too. He’s already looking for houses in Jacksonville, for crying out loud! But for now, Travis can chill for a while and enjoy his newfound title as a Jacksonville Jaguars WR.
The post Michael Strahan’s Brand Announces Partnership With Travis Hunter After Clearing Stance on Jaguars Rookie’s NFL Role appeared first on EssentiallySports.