Travon Walker: 3 things to know about Jacksonville Jaguars No. 1 pick in 2022 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Georgia defensive end Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

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Here are three things to know about Walker: 

1. Breakout final season

Walker didn’t make much of an impact in his first two seasons at Georgia, totaling 5.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks combined in the first 21 games of his college career.

But in 2021, his first year as a starter, Walker showed exactly what he’s capable of and played a key role on Georgia’s National Championship team, he finished with 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks and two passes defended.

2. Uncommon abilities

Walker has ideal size and length for an edge rusher at 6-5, 272 pounds. But he also has remarkable agility, quickness and overall speed — he ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That athleticism in a formidable frame is what makes Walker such an intriguing prospect.

He’s also very much an unfinished product. That could mean some growing pains as he learns what works and what doesn’t at the next level, but he has the size, speed and strength to win immediately at pro blockers and because he’s a bit of a blank slate he should fit well in any defensive scheme.

3. Late riser

For most of the pre-draft process, Walker was regarded as a pass rusher who had a chance to go in the top half of the first round, sometime after Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux — likely because he didn’t emerge until late in his college career.

But things have changed in recent weeks and he entered the draft as the betting favorite to be the No. 1 pick — likely because no other player in this draft has his uncommon mix of size and athleticism.