NFL Draft: Georgia's Travon Walker No. 1 pick, drafted by Jacksonville
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)
LAS VEGAS - Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Travon Walker was drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars. The dynamic playmaker who combines speed and athleticism is the first overall pick in the NFL draft.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Walker, who has some raw elements to his game but an extremely high ceiling for his skills, joins former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the second straight top overall selection by the Jaguars.
Walker was a five-star out of Upson-Lee High School in 2019 who moved two hours north to become a Georgia Bulldog. He made the Freshman All-SEC Team with 15 tackles, 3.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks in 12 contests, and played in nine games as a reserve the following season.
During Georgia's 2021 national championship season, the Georgia native started all 15 games with 37 stops, 7.5 for loss with six starts, and two pass breakups.
Walker, one of several Bulldogs likely to be chosen in the opening round, was a one-year starter whose production (13 tackles for loss and 9 1/2 sacks) doesn't jump out because he was part of a deep rotation at Georgia. His talent level certainly impressed the Jaguars, the NFL's worst team the past two years.
The Jaguars took the "athletic freak" Thursday night over Michigan star Aidan Hutchinson, who set a school record with 14 sacks in 2021 and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting.
General manager Trent Baalke had been leaning toward Walker for months and insisted new coach Doug Pederson was totally in agreement on selecting the former Bulldogs defender at No. 1.
Baalke and Pederson see a more versatile player in Walker, who logged snaps at defensive end, defensive tackle and outside linebacker in Georgia's vaunted defense last fall. His highlights include more than sacks; he stops the run, tackles speedy receivers in the open field and tips passes that lead to interceptions.
"He's an athletic freak," Georgia defensive coordinator Will Muschamp told The Associated Press. "I swear to God he could line up at middle linebacker and go be fine. I would take him at No. 1 and not even blink."
Once a two-sport star with NBA dreams at Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston, Georgia, Walker eventually settled on football and quickly became one of the most sought-after recruits in talent-rich Georgia. He signed with the Bulldogs and played college ball a little more than 100 miles from his hometown.
He bided his time as a backup during his first two years at Georgia - he made the league's Freshman All-SEC Team - and really started to blossom as a junior. He started all 15 games in 2021, finishing with 37 tackles, including 7 1/2 for a loss, and two pass breakups.
Muschamp first met Walker when he was 10 years old and now considers him one of the best kids he's ever coached.
"There's not a single red flag," Muschamp said. "He's the real deal now."
Jacksonville is the fourth NFL franchise with back-to-back No. 1 picks and is hoping to become the first to nail both selections. Tampa Bay (1976-77, 1986-87), Cincinnati (1994-95) and Cleveland (1999-2000, 2017-18) all failed to find success both times.
The Jaguars believe quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the slam-dunk top choice a year ago, is on the verge of becoming a star and just needs more help around him.
Jacksonville signed tight end Evan Engram and receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in free agency to help Lawrence. They also brought in five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff to help revamp an offensive line that allowed Lawrence to be sacked 32 times.
Offensive tackles Ikem "Ickey" Ekwonu and Evan Neal were under consideration at No. 1 but improving the team's pass rush proved to be a more pressing priority. The Jags still expect to use at least two of their 12 total selections to bolster Lawrence's protection and potentially his receiving corps.
But for now, they have a defensive building block to pair with fellow pass rusher Josh Allen in hopes of immediately improving a defense that ranked 20th in the league in yards allowed in 2021, tied for 27th with 32 sacks and gave up nearly 27 points a game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report