By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Jacksonville Jaguars used their first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on defensive end Travon Walker. He skyrocketed up the draft after the conclusion of the college football season.
Walker was being mentioned as a mid-first-round draft pick in initial mock drafts. Then, the Jaguars used the top pick on him last night.
He is the second straight No. 1 overall pick by the Jaguars. In 2021, the franchise used their top pick on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who they believe will be the franchise-changing quarterback that they need to lead the team.
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Walker was the first non-quarterback to go with the No. 1 overall pick since Myles Garrett in 2017. Garrett, also a defensive end, went to the Cleveland Browns.
When the draft process began, he was looking at a potential mid-round selection. However, as the process went on, he kept going up the draft board.
He only started one season with the Georgia Bulldogs. Walker played outside linebacker for the Bulldogs and helped them to the national championship.
Jaguars GM Trent Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson believes that Walker is a ‘rare combination,” according to Jaguars.com.
“There’s a lot of work to do, but there’s a lot of talent to work with,” Baalke, in his second draft as the Jaguars’ general manager, said of Walker moments after the selection.
Walker appeared in 29 games with the Bulldogs. He had 32 tackles, including 13.0 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three pass deflections.
In his breakthrough season with the Bulldogs, he had 17 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for a loss. He also had 6.0 sacks, one fumble recovery, and two pass deflections.
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“He played all up and down the defensive line at Georgia,” Pederson said. “He’s just a tremendous kid. He’s going to be great for the locker room. It’s exciting to be able to see where he can help us. He’s already coming into a good room and he just made the room better. We’re excited for that.”
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