While the Jacksonville Jaguars are in the midst of a playoff push, the offseason chatter has already begun for several NFL clubs. This means that conversations about free agency and the draft are picking up steam despite the fact that there are four games left in the 2025 schedule. For instance, edge rusher Travon Walker was just dubbed a trade target for the Washington Commanders.
On paper, the Commanders makes senses as a potential landing spot for Walker. After all, they need to bolster their pass rush and have more than enough cap space ($80 million to $90 million) to accommodate his salary of $15.1 million in 2026. The issue is that they may not have their draft ammo to get a deal done.
Washington traded its second to the Houston Texans in return for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Walker may be worth a first-round selection, and the Commanders still have theirs in next year's draft. However, it's projected to the fifth or sixth overall, and it's hard to see them paying such a hefty price for the former Georgia Bulldog. That said, they may not be the only team that may set their sights on him.
The Philadelphia Eagles could also use upgrades in their pass rusher, and general manager Howie Roseman hasn't shied away from making trades to improve the roster. With this in mind, here's a trade proposal that sends Walker to Philly next year.
Trade proposal: The Jaguars send Travon Walker to the Eagles in return for a high draft pick
The Eagles are expected to make the playoffs. This means that their first round pick will be in the late teens, early 20s, or as low as No. 32 if they win the Super Bowl. And while teams value their first-round picks, parting ways with a late first-round is way easier to stomach than the fifth or sixth overall.
The Jaguars probably won't entertain offers for Walker unless a first-round selection or a package of picks with similar value. In this pitch, things are as straightforward as they can get: Jacksonville gets the Eagles' first-round selection in 2026 in return for the Thomaston, Georgia native.
This would be a pretty good deal when you take into account that the Jags gave up their first in 2026 as part of the trade to move up for two-way star Travis Hunter.
Why the Eagles are a logical fit for Travon Walker
Leaving aside that the Eagles have the trade ammo to pull off a trade, Howie Roseman has a history of making deals to acquire players throughout his stint as a general manager in the City of Brotherly Love. Heck, he did business with the Jags, trading for running back Tank Bigsby once the season had started and left tackle Fred Johnson before that.
Just before this year's deadline, the Eagles traded for defensive back Michael Carter II, cornerback Jaire Alexander, and defensive end Jalean Phillips. Couple that with the fact that Philadelphia was dubbed a trade destination for Travon Walker last offseason, and nobody would bat an eye if Roseman made an effort to acquire him in 2026.
Why the Jaguars could consider trading Travon Walker
The new regime has made it clear that Travon Walker is a franchise-building block, picking up his fifth-year option on his rookie deal early in 2025. And even though he had a quiet rookie season, he's gone on to become a productive player in Duval.
Granted, Walker has been held back by injuries this season but logged a combined 20.5 sacks the past two years. His contract runs through 2026, so the Jags don't really have to give him an extension next year. However, it would make sense to give him a new deal for a couple resons.
Walker is slated to count $15.1 million against the cap, and they could reduce his cap hit with an extension, as they could push some of his money to future years. On top of that, the more Jacksonville waits to pay him, the higher the rates for pass rushers will get.
But if the Jaguars and Walker don't agree on a new deal, that's where trading him would be the best course of action. Moving on from him would free up those $15.1 million, and the team's brass would then be able to sign one of their pending free agents, such as linebacker Devin Lloyd or running back Travis Etienne.
Ultimately, trading Travon Walker feels like the nuclear option, but if the Jaguars don't have any better choices, a first-round pick in the 20s would be solid compensation.
Grade: B