Recent reports suggested that Georgia pass rusher Travon Walker was the likely No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft and the Jacksonville Jaguars made it official.
The Jaguars got the 2022 NFL Draft going on Thursday by selecting Walker first overall.
Following the season, this was seen as a draft without a consensus No. 1. But for most of the weeks leading into the draft, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Michigan’s Aiden Hutchinson seemed to be the most likely selections.
As would be expected, Walker’s selection drew a mixed reaction.
Walker is the first Bulldogs player to be selected No. 1 overall since the Detroit Lions drafted Matthew Stafford in 2009. He’s also the second consecutive first overall pick by the Jaguars. A year ago, the pick was quarterback Trevor Lawrence. This year, the goal is clearly to find someone who can attack opposing quarterbacks.
The relatively modest numbers are an obvious drawback as it relates to Walker. During the 2021 season, he tallied only six sacks. That said, he performed in Georgia’s two biggest games. He recorded a sack in the Bulldogs semifinal victory over Michigan and another in the National Championship Game victory against SEC rival, Alabama.
Given the production that Hutchinson had at Michigan, taking Walker is a risk for the Jaguars. But Trent Baalke and company obviously saw enough to think that his productivity will get better in the NFL.
[NFL]