3 Jacksonville Jaguars rookies who could start right away in 2022

No. 2 Jaguars rookie who could be a Day 1 starter – Travon Walker.

This one isn’t particularly shocking when you take into account that the Jaguars took defensive lineman Travon Walker with the No. 1 pick of the draft. Top 5 selections hardly ever start their rookie season on the bench and quarterbacks get to see the field from Day 1 nowadays.

The biggest caveat with Walker is that he didn’t play just a single position at Georgia and instead was asked to move across the Bulldogs’ defensive line and fill different roles. In Jacksonville, he will rush the quarterback, something he didn’t do often throughout his collegiate career. In fact, his lack of experience in that regard was his biggest question mark ahead of the draft. However, he has plenty of time to get acclimated to his new position, and even if he is off to a slow start, he will be better off dealing with the learning curve early on.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports recently suggested that Walker could benefit from a redshirt year but he won’t get any better on the sidelines. Sure, he might learn a thing or two from watching his teammates’ plays but he can also do that by watching tape. He must get as many snaps as possible to hone his skills as a pass rusher.

The Jags don’t probably see Walker as a project. Otherwise, they might not have taken him with the top pick in the draft. That’s why they need to make him a starter from Day 1, a move that could pay off in the long run.