NFL

Jacksonville Jaguars Select DE Travon Walker With No. 1 Overall Pick In 2022 NFL Draft

Apr 28, 2022, 6:19 PM

Travon Walker #DL48 of the Georgia Bulldogs speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

BY TREVOR ALLEN
KSL Sports

LAS VEGAS – The Jacksonville Jaguars had the number one overall pick in the second consecutive NFL Draft and they selected defensive end Travon Walker from Georgia.

The Jaguars used their number one overall pick in 2021 to bolster their offense by taking Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, now they have added a key piece to their defense with Travon Walker.

BREAKING: With the No. 1 pick in the 2022 #NFLDraft, the @Jaguars select former @GeorgiaFootball defensive end Travon Walker (@44ytw).#KSLDraft #NFL

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 29, 2022

Walker was a backup on the defensive line for Georgia for two seasons before getting the start during the 2021 season. He finished the 2021 season with 37 total tackles, 19 solo tackles, six sacks, one fumble recovery and two pass deflections.

Georgia won the College Football Playoff National Championship this past season and Walker made some key plays in the process. In the CFP semifinal against Michigan in the Orange Bowl, Walker had two tackles and one sack. During the National Championship Game, Walker had three tackles and one sack in their 33-18 win over Alabama.

Mel Kiper of ESPN had this to say about Walker in his last mock draft.

“This pick has been leaning in this direction for the past week. The Jaguars must prefer what Walker could be over what Aidan Hutchinson already is (and I think Hutchinson will get even better). Walker is my ninth-ranked prospect. It would be extremely hard for me to take a guy at No. 1 who had 9.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and one forced fumble in his entire three-year college career.”

Jacksonville finished the 2021 season with a 3-14 record. They fired Urban Meyer just 13 games into the season. Doug Pederson was hired during the off-season. He won a Super Bowl as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 with a win over the New England Patriots.