Ranking the last 10 Jaguars first-round picks in the NFL Draft
4. Travon Walker, Edge - Pick 1, 2022
Nearly every NFL hopeful has probably dreamed, at one point or another, about becoming the top overall pick in the draft and getting the spotlight. The downside is that such honor comes with lofty expectations. Players who are drafted first overall are expected to become All-Pros, and not everyone succeeds.
Having drafted Trevor Lawrence the year prior, the Jaguars passed on the NFL-ready Aidan Hutchinson and drafted Travon Walker first overall in 2022. At the time, the pick was criticized because Walker was seen as a project. While he had the tools to develop into a dominant pass rusher, he had a steep learning curve, as he made the transition from 4-3 defensive end to standup linebacker.
Walker had a relatively quiet rookie season while he adjusted to his new position. He got a stronger hold in 2023 and finished the year with 10 sacks. The former Georgia Bulldog has yet to reach his ceiling but he should get closer under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who is known for getting the most out of his defensive lineman. In Nielsen's 4-3 scheme, Walker will once again line up with his hand on the ground. That should lead to another leap.
3. Travis Etienne, RB - Pick 25, 2021
The Travis Etienne pick raised eyebrows because the Jaguars already had James Robinson in the fold and he was coming off a 1,000-yard season. The fact that Etienne missed his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury made the selection look even worse. Granted, it wasn't his fault that he got hurt but it was fair to wonder if the Jags could've instead drafted someone who would have been able to contribute right off the bat.
But then, Etienne got back at full strength in 2022 and showed why he was a first-round pick, totaling 1,441 yards and making Robinson expendable. The following year, the former Clemson Tiger once again had more than 1,000 rushing yards but averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per carry. That was mostly the result of running behind a porous offensive line, though.
The Jaguars made upgrades to the offensive trenches after the 2023 season. That should lead to an uptick in production from Etienne, who's lived up to his draft billing and then some.