The No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft will remain in place for at least two more years. The Jaguars announced on Monday that defensive end Travon Walker‘s fifth-year option has been exercised. 
As a result of today’s decision, Walker will remain under team control through 2026. The Georgia product qualifies for the playtime (or second-highest) tier regarding fifth-year options, meaning he is now in line to collect $14.75MM during the ’26 campaign. With that said, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes an expectation exists a long-term extension will ultimately be worked out in this case.
Over the course of his college career, Walker flashed considerable potential but managed only 9.5 sacks across three seasons. That stood in contrast to the production of Aidan Hutchinson, viewed in advance of the ’22 draft as more of a known commodity and thus a prospect with a higher floor. Jacksonville gambled on Walker’s athletic upside, though, while Hutchinson wound up being selected second overall by the Lions.
Walker operated as a full-time starter during his rookie campaign, one in which he managed 3.5 sacks and 21 quarterback pressures. Since then, the 24-year-old has taken a step forward in terms of production. Walker posted 10 sacks in 2023, and added another 10.5 to his career total last season. Over the past two seasons, his 59 pressures and 23 tackles for loss illustrate his disruptiveness at the NFL level. Continued growth can be expected, and if that proves to take place Jacksonville will have a strong tandem along the edge.
The Jags made Josh Hines-Allen one of several core players who received an extension last offseason. The former first-rounder is attached a $28.25MM-per-year deal which runs through 2028. If a long-term investment is to be made in Walker, Jacksonville will have one of the league’s most expensive pass-rush groups. Especially with quarterback Trevor Lawrence attached to one of the NFL’s most lucrative deals at that position, Walker’s situation will be key in determining the team’s financial outlook for several years.
The edge rush market has already seen both Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett secure record-breaking deals from their respective teams. The likes of Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson, T.J. Watt and Hutchinson are eligible for new contracts this offseason. As a result, the top of the pecking order could move past the $40MM AAV mark it currently stands at. Walker will not approach that figure on a second Jaguars accord, but he could certainly stand to benefit from the upward movement of the market.
Jacksonville has a new coaching and front office staff in place from the end of last year. Liam Coen and James Gladstone will be tasked with helping the team rebound from 2024’s disappointing performance, and Walker will play a role in that effort now and (quite likely) for several years to come.
I read somewhere that Baalke drafted T Walker of Hut because he was still mad at J Harbuagh and didn’t want a UM player. Whether it’s true or not, makes for a story.
Inside job. Back door money. Hutch being drafted from his hometown was much more important.
Walker has grown to be a solid player, but I think that we can all say that he probably wasn’t a first overall pick. It would be one thing if, at the time, he was considered an unbelievable, can’t miss prospect, but he wasn’t really. Good, sure, but not a number one type talent.
Still, he’s shown enough to at least get the option to capitalize. 10.5 sacks isn’t elite, but any team would definitely take it. However, Walker is firmly in the running to justify his selection even now with a big season because of those numbers. If he puts up, say, 15 or more sacks this year or next, our conversations about him would be much different. He very well could do so-it’s not like he’s going from 6 to 16, after all. I’d say that that’s what Jacksonville needs to see to justify a big, long term contract-progression from being a “good” pass rusher to being a great pass rusher as a former first overall pick.