Jaguars veteran leader has strong endorsement of ascending Travon Walker

The Jacksonville Jaguars just picked up Trevor Walker's fifth-year options. While it's fair to say that they've been pleased with his improvement so far, they'd surely want him to have a bigger impact in 2025. The good news is that the former Georgia Bulldog has done enough the past two years to make you think that he'll take the next step next season. Teammate Foyesade Oluokun has seen first-hand the work he's put in and is confident that he'll pull it off.

Oluokun met with the local media during the team's voluntary workouts and said that Walker should keep improving, pointing out that his teammate has the work ethic and the athletic skills to make it happen.

"I've seen his growth from his rookie year to now. And even last year, when things were kind of going awry and stuff, he was still putting his best foot forward," Oluokun said when asked to share his thoughts on Walker. "I like his work ethic as a player, scheme, whatever. I was like his work ethic. So I feel like in a scheme that's going to benefit him, and a coaches who use his talents and hard work and mentality to the best of his ability, the sky's the limit for him."

Oluokun, "So I'd always that his athletic specimen and stuff, but he also got that hard working mentality. So I just love being around him."

Walker, the first overall pick in the 2022 draft, had a relatively quiet rookie campaign. However, he showed notable improvement in 2023 and was able to show consistency last year. That's why nobody batted an eye when Jacksonville picked up his option.

The Thomaston, Georgia native is now set to have manageable cap hits of $11.8 million and $14.8 million in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Of course, the Jaguars could give him an extension. It would probably increase his cap hits the next two years, but they wouldn't have to backload the contract.

Conversely, the Jaguars can wait until 2027 to get a deal done. And even then, they could apply the franchise tag on Walker. Either way, you will be hard-pressed to find someone in the organization who doesn't have high praise for the fourth-year pass rusher.

Below is Oluokun's full exchange with the press corps. His comments about Walker start at the 20:54 mark.

Why Foyesade Oluokun's voice carries weigth in the Jaguars locker room

Anything Foyesade Oluokun says deserves attention. After all, he's one of the most respected leaders in the Jaguars locker room A couple of years ago, he showed up to offseason activities to mentor his teammates despite the fact that he was excused. On top of that, he's been named a team captain every year since landing in Jacksonville in 2022. Trevor Lawrence is the only other Jaguar who's achieved the feat.

In fact, the Jaguars value Oluokun's contributions on and off the field so much that they gave him an extension last year. The three-year, $45 million contract he inked in 2022 ran through 2024. Barring anything unexpected, he's now slated to become a free agent until 2028.

The bottom line is that Travon Walker doesn't need anyone to speak on his behalf. His work alone is enough. However, his teammates won't pass up the chance to praise him precisely because they know how committed to getting better he is.

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