Travon Walker making a name for himself with strong outing for Jaguars in Week 5 win

The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 but had trouble stopping their offense. Don't blame pass rusher Travon Walker, though. Even though they gave up 34 points, the former Georgia Bulldog terrorized Joe Flacco throughout most of the game while reminding everyone why the Jags drafted him first overall in 2022.

In the Jags' Week 5 win, Walker registered three sacks and seven total pressures, which was more than the entire Colts' defense. On top of that, he posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 90.3.

Following the win, head coach Doug Pederson told the local beat that he was pleased with Walker's dominant performance, pointing out that it was good to see his and his teammates' hard work pay off.

"He was he was big. It's good to see him take this step forward," Pederson said. "He and the D-line have been really close to getting to the quarterbacks here in this first month of the season, and proud of those guys for the way they've stuck together and continue to work."

For the season, the Georgia native has totaled 19 total pressures and five sacks, tied with defensive end Maxx Crosby for fifth in the NFL. Meanwhile, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen has two sacks and 19 pressures.

Travon Walker still has a long way to go to prove the Jaguars right

It's great to see Travon Walker becoming a key cog and stepping out of the shadow of teammate Josh Hines-Allen. However, he still has his work cut out when it comes to proving the Jacksonville Jaguars made the right decision when they drafted him first overall in 2022.

As impressive as Walker has been, Aidan Hutchinson, who went to the Detroit Lions at No. 2 the same year, has been even better. This season, the former Michigan Wolverine has logged 6.5 sacks and a league-best 40 total pressures. Furthermore, he's making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year honors.

You could argue that Walker doesn't have to outplay Hutchinson to prove his worth, and you'd have a point. Both players could turn out to be franchise cornerstones for the Jags and Lions, respectively. But on the other hand, their careers will be forever linked because they play the same position and were drafted with back-to-back picks.

The discussion will most definitely continue when Jacksonville faces the Lions in Week 11. It's also worth noting that Detriot has gone to a conference championship, the first ever since the NFL-AFL merger, since drafting Hutchinson. Sure, he's not the sole reason they pulled off the feat, but he's certainly played a role.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars are struggling, going 1-4 to start the 2024 season. Their defense is also among the worst in the league, sitting at No. 30 in terms of points surrendered and No. 31 in total yards. It's not Walker's fault, though. Heck, the unit would arguably be better without him, but precisely because they're struggling, his success is more impressive.

Ultimately, Walker is making strides, but the Jaguars need him to break out and become the player they envisioned when they drafted him in 2022. It would certainly help them turn things around.

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