How the Jaguars’ Offseason Has Turned Up the Pressure on Travon Walker

With the Jaguars still having big needs at pass-rush, the time is now for Travon Walker to flip the switch.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars took Travon Walker at No. 1 overall last April, the expectation was that one day, he would step into the role of a top pas-rusher.

Judging by this year's offseason, it is clear the Jaguars will need that day to come sooner than later.

The Jaguars' pass-rush remains one of the biggest question marks on the entire roster following the departure of Arden Key, the injury and expiring contract of Dawuane Smoot, and finally by Calais Campbell spurning them for the Atlanta Falcons.

A year after the Jaguars finished No. 26 in sacks and failed to sack an injured Patrick Mahomes once in their AFC Divisional Round loss, the Jaguars' pass rush has lost two of its most efficient rushers. 

“I think we’ve got to improve our pass rush. I think that’s vital, particularly on third down,” Pederson said this week at the NFL's annual owners meetings. "I thought we were good with the run, we just gotta continue to get better with the run and shore up some things there. I think the passing game is the area we have to look at and address in the offseason, and clean that part of it up."

So far, the reinforcements haven't yet come in the form of veteran pass-rushers. Until they do, the Jaguars have no choice but to hope Walker improves upon his rookie season and develops into the player they need him to become after they passed on Aidan Hutchinson for him.

The Jaguars will undoubtedly select a pass-rusher at some point in next month's draft, but hoping for a rookie to step in and make an impact as a pass-rusher is a big ask. The Jaguars did it with Josh Allen in 2019, when he produced 10.5 sacks, but Allen was a top-10 pick. 

Jacksonville is now picking No. 24 overall, a range that hasn't been ideal for rookie pass-rushers. 

Since 2000, there have been 29 EDGEs drafted between picks 20-29. One player (Clay Matthews in 2009) recorded 10 or more sacks as a rookie. Only 9 recorded more than four sacks, including none since Montez Sweat in 2019.

On average, EDGEs drafted between 20-29 (the Jaguars' first-round range this year) since 2000 are recording 3.25 sacks a season

In short, the Jaguars can't trust a rookie to step in and solve their pass-rush problems. Maybe they could if they were picking top-5, but not at No. 24. 

Instead, the Jaguars need Walker to be that player.

"It all starts up front, putting pressure on the quarterback, whether we’re doing that with four guys or five guys. You want to see Travon [Walker] take that next step in year two," Pederson said. 

"You want to see Josh [Allen] come along again as an edge rusher and really, in his fifth year, make an impact for the team. We’re confident both those guys can do that.”

Walker flashed during his rookie season, thriving as a run-defender and improving as a pass-rusher as the year went on. But his modest rookie numbers paint the picture of who he was as a prospect.

Walker's 3.5 sacks in 2022 were fourth-most among first-round edge rushers, while a second-round pick (Sam Williams) and a sixth-rounder (James Houston) outproducing him. Sacks don't tell the whole story, but neither do pressures. The Jaguars were a high-pressure defense in 2022. In 2023, they need to simply get more sacks.

To do that, they will need Walker to take a big step. They haven't allowed themselves any other options.