Travon Walker’s sack numbers might fool the casual observer into thinking the former first-overall pick is blossoming into a premier edge rusher. But a closer look at the film tells a different story.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker (44) battles at the line against Miami Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe (81) during the first half at EverBank Stadium.Melina Myers/Imagn Images
Far too often, his sacks come late in the down, after the pocket already collapsed or a teammate flushed the quarterback his way. Rather than winning with technique, Walker has become reliant on one singular pass rush move (his bull-rush) and a cleanup artist instead of a sack creator.
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According to PFF, Walker accounted for 56 total pressures in 911 defensive snaps. This placed him 19th among edge defenders, but his pass-rush win rate comes in at only 74th overall. Pass-rush win rate is a stat that is tracked to show how often a defender beats their blocker within 2.5 seconds. That’s a massive red flag for a guy who is supposed to be a premier edge threat.
When it comes to his pass-rush grade, Walker checks in with a 65.1 overall grade, placing him 79th out of 211 edge rushers. These are not the analytics you expect from someone drafted ahead of Detroit Lions superstar Aidan Hutchinson, who has been consistently more dominant and disruptive with less help.
This doesn’t mean he’s not a good player. He is a high-effort player and is pretty solid against the run. His athleticism, which made him the number one overall selection, flashes at times. But if you are expecting him to be the guy who wrecks a game plan – the kind of edge rusher that the opposing offense has to scheme around – he just has not shown that.
The Jaguars still picked up his fifth-year option, so clearly, they are hoping his actual production starts to match his fool’s gold sack numbers. But at some point, the production has to match up with the pedigree. You don’t draft a cleanup artist first overall. You draft a game-wrecker. You draft a franchise-changing player. And right now, Travon Walker just isn’t that guy.
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Part of the problem may be the position he plays itself. Walker is a freak athlete with size (6’5″, 272lbs) and power, but he lacks the suddenness and flexibility needed to win on the outside. His get-off is average at best, and his pass-rush arsenal is still limited.
He may be better suited for a move inside, where his strength, length, and athleticism can be used against slower, less athletic guards. Playing as a 3-tech or hybrid interior lineman on passing downs more often could unlock a more natural path to disruption, rather than forcing him to bend the edge like a traditional pass rusher. He thrived at Georgia in a similar role, as a versatile piece in a loaded front seven.
The hope is that this new regime can unlock something more from Walker. There is still a chance Walker finds his stride under new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. But it might require the new staff to admit he’s not the prototypical edge rusher and change his role.
Because, if he doesn’t take the next step soon, the Jaguars’ decision to pass on a more polished edge talent back in the 2022 NFL Draft will only continue to haunt them and, they will have some cleaning up of their own to do.
Related: Report: Jaguars NOT Picking Up Fifth-Year Option on Linebacker