Jaguars’ Travon Walker on Year 2: ‘I Want To Focus More on Just Playing Faster’

Last year's No. 1 overall pick has his eyes on one clear goal in 2023.

Travon Walker knows where he needs to improve in 2023.

The Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher and 2022 No. 1 pick went through the typical ups and downs of an NFL rookie last season, but it is because of those growing pains that Walker believes he is set up for success in 2023.

"I want to focus more on just playing faster, not thinking as much, playing with a clear head," Walker told Jaguars.com. 

"I've been in the scheme, so I really shouldn't be thinking as much. Now I should really be concentrating on the game of football to understand how veteran players do certain things, what are some tendencies I can pick up on from formations, things of that nature." 

Ultimately, Walker finished his rookie season with 3.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception, two pass deflections, 49 tackles, and 43 pressures.

Walker's 43 pressures ranked fourth among all rookie edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus.

A big part of Walker's transition to the NFL wasn't just the sole fact that he was a rookie, but that he was a full-time edge defender for the first time in his career. In many ways, it was noticeable week in and week out just how much thinking Walker was doing as opposed to playing. 

With a year now under his belt, though, Walker is confident that he can back to what he does best.

"There's so much going on in the rookie season, coming into a new scheme, new coaches, just having to get a feel of the people that I'm going to be around. Now I just really go back to the basic fundamental game of football," Walker said. 

"Everything that we saw in him in the draft process, we’re so thankful that we drafted him, he’s a part of our football team," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after the 2022 season.

"I just met with him a few minutes ago, and he’s excited for this offseason. He’s excited for his future. He understands he can get better and he can help us in different ways. He wants to take that next step in a leadership role, and I think that’s important for him to do."

“I think Travon, like all these rookies, it was a season of growth. You’re always looking at young players, and usually that step between year one and year two is the biggest jump that these guys have as players, but I think he did a lot of nice things," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said after the season.

"Like I talked to him a week ago, that stat number that everybody has in their mind of sacks is, in a lot of ways, very overvalued. There’s a lot of ways to influence a game, and I think Travon, you saw him do it, whether it be the run or the pass, he had an impact this year, and it’s only going to get better from here.”