ESPN suggests ridiculous trade involving Travon Walker that Jaguars would never make

Defensive end Travon Walker had an encouraging 2023 season after a relatively quiet rookie campaign. While he still has a a long way to go, he's quickly solidfiying his place as a franchise cornerstone for the Jacksonville Jaguars. That's why it was odd to see Benjamin Solak of ESPN suggest the Jags trade the first overall pick in the 2022 draft for a ham sandwich.

Solak put together a list of proposals ahead of the November 5 deadline and suggested the Jags send Walker to the Detriot Lions, pointing out that they could still be sellers in spite of racking up their first win of the season. His reasoning for dealing the former Georgia Bulldog is that he's been inconsistent but could still net Jacksonvillle a pair of late-round selections.

"Lions get: Edge Travon Walker
Jaguars get: 2025 fourth-round selection, 2026 fourth-round selection

The Jaguars got their first win of the season Sunday and may still be subtracting when the trade deadline comes. Walker, the first overall pick in 2022, has had two splashy games this season and three complete blanks otherwise. He still hasn't quite figured it out with the Jaguars, but he has done enough (five sacks this season) to still fetch a solid pick or two in return."

Walker is coming off his best game of the season. Besides logging three sacks, he had seven total pressures, more than the amount the Colts had as a team in Week 5.

For the season, the Georgia native has registered a team best five sacks and 19 total presures. When you take into account that the Jaguars don't have much depth behind him and bookend pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen, it's hard to see them trading him to Detroit.

Grade the proposal: The Jaguars trade Travon Walker for 5th and 6th-round draft picks

The Jacksonville Jaguars just got their first victory of the season and have two winnable games on the schedule. For the sake of the argument, let's say they manage to beat the Chicago Bears, and the New England Patriots in Weeks 6 and 7, respectively.

They Jags would be 3-4 and one way away from being 4-4 when they welcome the Green Bay Packers at home in Week 9. Trading Travon Walker, one of their top 3 defensive players would suddenly make it difficult to keep winning. Simply put, why would they make that deal when the team's brass is currently looking to turn things around (and trying not get fired).

General manager Trent Baalke would most definitely not execute that trade when you take into account that a) he drafted Walker, and b) he's trying to keep his job. Moreover, Jacksonville is going to face the Detriot Lions later this season, and the last thing they surely want is for the move to come back to haunt them.

But imagine the Jaguars did consider the possibility of trading Travon Walker right now or that teams do due dilligence and inquire about him. It's highly unlikely that sixth and fifth-round picks will get a deal done.

If Jacksonville is 1-7 and a club does offer a high first-round pick, but Baalke should consider entertaining offers, it's hard to picture them agreeing to the conditions Benjamin Solak suggests.

The bottom line is that Travon Walker has become a mainstay of the Jaguars defense, and they would have a hard time replacing his production with a pair of late-round picks. They're better off keeping him around whether they manage to turn things around in 2024.

Grade: F

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