The Jacksonville Jaguars selected defensive end Travon Walker first overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. It didn’t hit with the same impact as the previous year’s No. 1-overall selection Trevor Lawrence, but a lot was still expected of Walker obviously.
Initially, things didn’t go so well as Walker logged just 3.5 sacks in 15 games his rookie year. However, in his last two seasons he racked up ten and 10.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
And while the Jaguars have plenty of young potential stars, Bleacher Report recently named Walker as the Jags’ “Most Promising Building Block Entering 2025.”
“Surprisingly, Travon Walker hasn’t earned a Pro Bowl nod with back-to-back double-digit sack seasons, though his production deserves recognition and a pay raise,” writes Moe Moton.
“The Jaguars have exercised the fifth-year option in Walker’s deal. While it remains to be seen if he gets a new contract, his stock has been on the rise,” he continues. “Walker has increased his total sacks and tackles for loss every year in the league. The 2022 No. 1 overall pick has star potential and could be in line for his most productive year in 2025.”
Walker wants to be the best overall player he can be
Walker knows how good he can truly be and he knows that isn’t just measured in sack totals, even though that’s where many people look.
“Everybody wants to get double-digit sacks,” Walker said after OTAs. “For me, I just want to be a total and complete football player. I want to be able to stop the run because we aren’t able to rush the passer without stopping the run. Once we do that it allows us to get after the quarterback. I just want to come out here and be the best overall player I can be every day.”
Walker admits that he’s much more comfortable now, but is aware that the expectations are high for someone taken with the first-overall pick in any NFL draft.
“I am a lot more comfortable. The guys in the locker room are a lot more comfortable with me, too,” Walker continued. “I feel like all that just came with coming into the league, establishing myself and making plays for myself regardless of what the media said or what position I was drafted in.”
Travon just misses out on being the best in the NFL…at his number?
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently compiled a list of the players in the NFL who are the best in the league to wear their number. It’s early July and there isn’t much to write about so, why not?
Walker was considered with No. 44, but he lost out to Baltimore Ravens‘ cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
“Travon Walker is faring reasonably with the Jaguars in this number, and Zaire Franklin is a tenacious leader for the Colts defense wearing the same thing,” writes Benjamin. “Humphrey has been a top-shelf corner basically every other year in Baltimore, though, and hit a career-high six picks in 2024.
“Walker, meanwhile, is looking to become the first player in Jaguars’ history this year to record three straight seasons of double-digit sacks. He finished the 2024 season ranked 19th in pressures among all edge defenders and he was 10th in run stops.”
The Jaguars picked up his fifth-year option for 2026 in April so this will be great time to really breakout and get paid.
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