Recent reports suggested that Georgia pass rusher Travon Walker was the likely No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft and the Jacksonville Jaguars made it official.
The Jaguars got the 2022 NFL Draft going on Thursday by selecting Walker first overall.
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 @NFLDraft, the @Jaguars select Travon Walker!@NewEraCap | #DUUUVAL
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/qmoakPbnyL
— NFL (@NFL) April 29, 2022
Following the season, this was seen as a draft without a consensus No. 1. But for most of the weeks leading into the draft, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Michigan’s Aiden Hutchinson seemed to be the most likely selections.
As would be expected, Walker’s selection drew a mixed reaction.
Travon Walker's upside is tremendous. Now it's on Jacksonville to help put him in position–via scheme and coaching–to capitalize on it. #Jaguars
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 29, 2022
The #Jaguars will select Georgia DE Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. GM Trent Baalke gets the player he coveted. The traits and measurables mattered.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 29, 2022
When I watched Georgia's all-time great D last season, I thought 3 players would go higher in the draft than Travon Walker (Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, DWyatt). But suddenly he ran 4.5 at the Combine at 272 lbs and … NO. 1 OVERALL??? He was never double-teamed. Low sacks. Huh???
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 29, 2022
Bruh, Travon Walker’s celebration had to be the mildest 1st overall pick celebration ever. They must’ve told my man 2 weeks ago! 😂😂😂
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) April 29, 2022
At 1, the Jaguars take DE Travon Walker. I’d be reluctant to use the first pick on a player with 9.5 career sacks. #NFLDraft
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 29, 2022
You don't have to rewind very far to find a time when Travon Walker #1 overall would have been absolutely crazy.
Credit JAX for making an interesting pick at least.
Walker's as extreme an example of athlete > production you're gonna find.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) April 29, 2022
Walker is the first Bulldogs player to be selected No. 1 overall since the Detroit Lions drafted Matthew Stafford in 2009. He’s also the second consecutive first overall pick by the Jaguars. A year ago, the pick was quarterback Trevor Lawrence. This year, the goal is clearly to find someone who can attack opposing quarterbacks.
The relatively modest numbers are an obvious drawback as it relates to Walker. During the 2021 season, he tallied only six sacks. That said, he performed in Georgia’s two biggest games. He recorded a sack in the Bulldogs semifinal victory over Michigan and another in the National Championship Game victory against SEC rival, Alabama.
Given the production that Hutchinson had at Michigan, taking Walker is a risk for the Jaguars. But Trent Baalke and company obviously saw enough to think that his productivity will get better in the NFL.
[NFL]
