Travon Walker has had quite the precipitous rise up the draft boards. From being labeled as a raw but talented prospect to hearing his name called with the No. 1 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Thomaston, Ga product may not have had the stats and production of some of the other elite edge rushers in the class like Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux, but the former 5-star recruit has a body carved from marble, and he absolutely killed the Draft Combine workouts.
He has by far the most upside out of any EDGE rusher coming out of college this year.
Measurables: 6'5" 270 lbs
School: Georgia
2021 Stats: 37 total tlks, 19 solo, six sacks, one fumble recovery
Accolades: Freshman All-SEC Team (2019) 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship
Strengths: To say Walker is gifted physically would be an understatement. During the draft combine in Indianapolis, Walker ran a ridiculous 4.51 at the combine while weighing in at 272 lbs. He Has the long arms you look for out of a pass rusher - that allows him to keep offensive lineman at bay. With rare athleticism and versatility along the defensive front, Walker isn't just a great pass rusher but he also excels in run defense, consistently setting the edge, shutting down isolated tackles, and punishing runners who dare come to his side. He uses his massive size, length, and athleticism to gain leverage with his arms and violently move bodies out of the way to seek out the ball carrier.
As a pass rusher, Travon uses great leverage, often popping the lineman with his strong hands and lifting them up before powering through them. He’s able to use those long arms to keep any lineman attempting to recreate that leverage at bay and slide past them.
Weaknesses: Although Walker was an elite-run defender at Georgia, he's not as polished when it comes to his pass-rush production. He’s a bit stiff and doesn't allow his explosiveness and physicality to shine through, which is something that needs to be worked out at the next level if he wants to reach his full potential.
He doesn’t come off as an edge defender who will single-handedly take over games as a pass rusher, and that might give teams pause about spending a premium pick on him near the top of the draft.
NFL Comp: With Walker's size and strength, if he develops under the right coaches, and becomes a more developed and dependable pass rusher, he can become the next Cam Jordan, the dominating d-end who's made a living in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints by chasing quarterbacks.
What the experts say:
"Walker is a big, rugged run-stopper with the playing style and body type to play as an even- or odd-front end. He consistently outreaches blockers to take control at the point of attack and sets firm edges despite playing with limited knee bend. He has quick-shed ability to make plays near his gaps and could see an increase in production if allowed to play in a scheme that asks more of him than Georgia did from a playmaking perspective. He has the strength and length to plow through overmatched pass protectors but will need to improve his skill level to consistently find the quarterback as a pro. Walker's blend of explosiveness and aggression could help push his draft stock beyond his tape grade." - Lance Zierlain, NFL.com
"Rushing from the inside, Walker showed incredible lateral quickness at the snap, and was effective on stunts and line games that asked him to loop around a teammate and into the pocket. He has a devastating first step that translates into a powerful bull rush. As a run defender, he was consistent at stacking blockers to keep his eyes in the backfield before shedding his opponent to make the tackle. He does a good job controlling offensive linemen with a heavy punch or a long-arm stab. On the edge, he showed good bend to change direction and cut back to the quarterback and has the ability to dip his shoulder and rip his arm through to get past his opponent." -Danny Kelly, The Ringer
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