The Jacksonville Jaguars left a good number of folks scratching their heads on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. Rather than going with former Michigan pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, general manager Trent Baalke selected Georgia’s Travon Walker with the first overall pick. Essentially, the Jaguars’ brass went with raw talent and potential over college production.
The thing about this year’s draft class is that there wasn’t a consensus number one pick. Yes, Hutchinson was seen as the best overall player, but there were at least five players that could’ve gone in Walker’s place. This makes things interesting for Walker, mostly because his success will be tied to Hutchinson’s, whether that’s fair or not.
Baalke praised Walker’s versatility following his selection, an important reason why he went with the former Bulldog. In addition, there shouldn’t be any doubt that Mike Caldwell will make use of Walker’s ability to command double teams (as he did in college), which, in theory, will free up the Jaguars’ other pass rushers.
1. Aidan Hutchinson might have a better rookie year than Walker
The first reason why Walker’s going into a difficult situation is that Hutchinson might flourish out of the gate with the Detroit Lions. There’s a reason that Hutchinson has been compared to the Bosa brothers, and that’s due to the impact he has on a game.
Fans can expect Hutchinson to have anywhere between six and eight sacks in 2022. He’ll be aided by a fortified defensive line featuring Charles Harris and Romeo Okwara. Simply put, the Lions are in better shape to give their rookies more chances to rush the passer due to the overabundance of depth. Walker will likely be lined up all over the field, whether it’s inside or outside, which could affect his numbers by year’s end. Make no mistake, Caldwell will find a way for Walker to have an impact.
2. Jaguars fans will need to be patient with Travon Walker’s development
Walker’s college stats were never eye-popping, but his meteoric rise during the pre-draft process was due to his film. He consistently played as a stand-up pass rusher on the outside, where his speed and explosiveness stood out. Performing well during the NFL Combine can also be attributed to his ascension on big boards.
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Arguably the best lineman out of the Bulldogs’ unit that led them to a national championship, Walker will thrive in a similar role with the Jaguars. However, the other aspects of his game will take time to refine. One department will be in coverage, where Walker rarely saw playing time. Again, he has the physical skills, like his speed and ability to move laterally, to get better at that.
Once camp gets underway, the Jaguars’ defensive coaching staff will have a better idea of how to properly utilize Walker. Perhaps he’d be best suited inside, with a situational pass rush on the edge in certain plays. In all likelihood, Walker will create mismatches, allowing Josh Allen or Devin Lloyd to come up and make a play. Walker’s versatility is what sets him apart. Combined with his noteworthy speed, there’s a reason the Jags picked him over Hutchinson.
3. Jaguars DL Travon Walker’s stats might not live up to the hype in 2022.
The thing is, Walker will likely not blow up the stat sheet, which could draw ire from Duval. His contributions will be things that show up on tape and not necessarily in the box score. Looking back, this shouldn’t surprise Jaguars fans. Hutchinson had 14 sacks. Walker only recorded six. Sack numbers can be deceiving at times, but by far they’re the “sexiest” defensive stat, which certainly leads to discontent among Jaguars fans.
Unfortunately, there’s going to be tons of pressure on the number one pick in a scenario where Hutchinson flourishes as an NFL pass rusher. If those sacks pile up, criticism will start to creep in. However, Walker’s impact will be felt on the defense as a whole, perhaps even on others’ stat sheets.
The unfair prospect of all this is that both players have different skill sets and aren’t identical players. The issue will arise from the draft order. Realistically speaking, it will be a couple of years before Walker’s selection can be properly judged. He’ll need to quickly improve in many areas, but others on the Jaguars should benefit from his addition. As the 2022 season progresses, the Walker-Hutchinson comparison will be revisited.