Travon Walker (Georgia DE) -- DRAFTED BY JACKSONVILLE #1

[Ray75]

6’5” / 275 lbs

Walker is an big physical edge rusher, with a quick get-off, great change-of-direction, and violent and active hands. He converts explosion to pure power at contact easily to push linemen backwards. 

Walker has seen most of his snaps at five-tech just outside of the tackle’s shoulder. However, he’s played on the interior as well, where he can use his quickness to win against O-linemen. 

In the run game, Walker sets a firm edge with a strong lock-out and anchor. 

One of the things that separates Walker from the pack is how fluid he moves in space at 6’5” 275 lbs. He changes direction with little wasted movement. Very rare, almost un-human, for a guy his size.

Walker is a strong, big, nasty and above all versatile defender with great physical traits and the instincts to match them. He just needs some fine tuning but has so much untapped potential it’s not even fair.

Draft projection; top 20

 

 

[Green_Guinness]

His name had been mentioned more and more as one of the top DEs and his stock is trending upwards.  Should he perform well at the Combine he could push himself into the top 10-12 picks and away from us.  He seems like the kind of player Gannon values in being versatile.  With Gannon mixing up the scheme (4-3, 4i, 3-4) players like him and our boy Milton are good fits for what we want to do.  Surprised he didn't already have his own thread.  He's the type that can play DE on 1st and 2nd down then slide inside on 3rd/passing down for the NASCAR package.  Him and Milton on the inside and 3rd & long?  Hell yes!

I'd be happy with him, Ojabo, or Johnson.  It really depends what Gannon is doing on D as to which is the best overall in terms of the combo of scheme fit and talent.  F it, if we have the chance to draft 2 of them in the 1st then why not?  Not like we have all this great (and young) depth on the DL.

 

[Ray75]

46 minutes ago, Green_Guinness said:

His name had been mentioned more and more as one of the top DEs and his stock is trending upwards.  Should he perform well at the Combine he could push himself into the top 10-12 picks and away from us.  He seems like the kind of player Gannon values in being versatile.  With Gannon mixing up the scheme (4-3, 4i, 3-4) players like him and our boy Milton are good fits for what we want to do.  Surprised he didn't already have his own thread.  He's the type that can play DE on 1st and 2nd down then slide inside on 3rd/passing down for the NASCAR package.  Him and Milton on the inside and 3rd & long?  Hell yes!

I'd be happy with him, Ojabo, or Johnson.  It really depends what Gannon is doing on D as to which is the best overall in terms of the combo of scheme fit and talent.  F it, if we have the chance to draft 2 of them in the 1st then why not?  Not like we have all this great (and young) depth on the DL.

 

I was stunned this kid didn’t have his own thread on the EMB too.

The more I think about it, the more I get the feeling Eagles need to trade up for a pass rusher.

I think one possibly two out of Karlaftis, Ojabo, Johnson and Walker will be on the board when we’re on the clock but if they have their sights set on a specific pass rusher, they can’t play the wait and see game in hope the one they like the most falls right into their lap. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Howie trades up a couple of spots to secure one of these kids.

But like you said, depends on what Gannon wants to run. 

[Green_Guinness]

1 minute ago, Ray75 said:

I was stunned this kid didn’t have his own thread on the EMB too.

The more I think about it, the more I get the feeling Eagles need to trade up for a pass rusher.

I think one possibly two out of Karlaftis, Ojabo, Johnson and Walker will be on the board when we’re on the clock but if they have their sights set on a specific pass rusher, they can’t play the wait and see game in hope the one they like the most falls right into their lap. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Howie trades up a couple of spots to secure one of these kids.

But like you said, depends on what Gannon wants to run. 

Not a fan.  I hope someone drafts him before we do.  He smells of Barnett 2.0.  I prefer 1 of the other 3 as they all have much higher upsides/ceilings.  Agree, it depends on the scheme.  Are we going more 4i which is a variation of the 3-4 with a standup DE that can be moves across the LoS for a mismatch blitz package?  Or did we play 4i because we lacked enough talent to play 4-3 during the season?  I think it more the former than the latter, so that's why guys like Walker and Ojabo are more in our wheelhouse.

 

[Ray75]

22 minutes ago, Green_Guinness said:

Not a fan.  I hope someone drafts him before we do.  He smells of Barnett 2.0.  I prefer 1 of the other 3 as they all have much higher upsides/ceilings.  Agree, it depends on the scheme.  Are we going more 4i which is a variation of the 3-4 with a standup DE that can be moves across the LoS for a mismatch blitz package?  Or did we play 4i because we lacked enough talent to play 4-3 during the season?  I think it more the former than the latter, so that's why guys like Walker and Ojabo are more in our wheelhouse.

 

100 % agree. Of those 4 I like Karlaftis the least but I fear he’ll last the longest. 

Huge fan of Johnson but like you said both Ojabo and Walker arguably have the higher ceiling.

Ojabo screams pure 3-4 OLB to me since he hardly played with his hands in the dirt at Michigan. If you’re looking to replace Avery with a stud, he’s your guy. 

But if you want someone who has the versatility to play all over your DL plus has the athletic and physical trades to be deployed as a stand up rusher occasionally Walker is your man IMO.

[Waiting4Someday]

7 hours ago, Green_Guinness said:

Not a fan.  I hope someone drafts him before we do.  He smells of Barnett 2.0.  I prefer 1 of the other 3 as they all have much higher upsides/ceilings.  Agree, it depends on the scheme.  Are we going more 4i which is a variation of the 3-4 with a standup DE that can be moves across the LoS for a mismatch blitz package?  Or did we play 4i because we lacked enough talent to play 4-3 during the season?  I think it more the former than the latter, so that's why guys like Walker and Ojabo are more in our wheelhouse.

 

Seeing Sweat play the 4i and Barnett playing in a 2-point stance was an indication that we are working with what we have.  Ideally, we’d have the personnel to shift seamlessly from a 3-man (4i-0-4i)+OLB to a typical 4-man nickel front. For example the parts we have:

BG-Hargrove-Cox——Sweat

BG-Hargrove-Cox-Sweat

To the parts you might want:

Walker-JD99-Milton Williams-Ojabo

[Rob331]

Bingo - top of my list. 

[Ray75]

During his week at the combine, Walker did have a formal meeting with the Eagles.

How’d he shoot? "Three-for-five,” he said. Not too bad.

[Waiting4Someday]

2 hours ago, Ray75 said:

During his week at the combine, Walker did have a formal meeting with the Eagles.

How’d he shoot? "Three-for-five,” he said. Not too bad.

I expected better with those 35” arms.

[Cheesteakitis]

 Travon Walker, DE, Georgia    
Travon Walker had an amazing pro day. Not only was he terrific in the drills; he also ran a 4.51 40 at 275 pounds. He also posted a 10-3 broad jump, a 35.5-inch vertical, and the second-best 3-cone time (6.89). He may have moved into the top five of this draft class. 

- walter football 

 

[Couch Potato]

Sadly for us, I think the Giants will be all over him at either #5 or #7.

[Waiting4Someday]

On 3/6/2022 at 9:14 AM, Couch Potato said:

Sadly for us, I think the Giants will be all over him at either #5 or #7.

He hasn't played a ton outside, and others say he's a touch slow off the ball... maybe between this and the QBs getting pushed up, we get a shot.  

[Aerolithe_Lion]

He’s now being mocked as #1 overal by a few pundits. Probably a big stretch, but it shows believing him to drop out of the top 10 may be an even bigger one.

 

https://blackandteal.com/2022/04/13/nfl-execs-mixed-jaguars-draft-pick/

https://sportsnaut.com/momentum-builds-travon-walker-no-1-overall-pick/amp/

https://www.nfl.com/news/lance-zierlein-2022-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-panthers-pass-on-qb-chiefs-trade-up-for-w
 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2022-nfl-three-round-mock-draft-travon-walker-to-jaguars-at-no-1-ravens-load-up-after-trade-backs/
 

 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

1 hour ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

He’s now being mocked as #1 overal by a few pundits. Probably a big stretch, but it shows believing him to drop out of the top 10 may be an even bigger one.

I think he's probably the second DE off the board and more than one DE is going in the top 10 I'm pretty sure. I do think he may be the best DE in the draft though. Not the most polished and more of a risk than Hutchinson but I think the ceiling is higher. 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Another 

https://www.nfl.com/news/charles-davis-2022-nfl-mock-draft-2-0-steelers-surprise-with-fast-rising-qb

[Infam]

9 hours ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

Another 

https://www.nfl.com/news/charles-davis-2022-nfl-mock-draft-2-0-steelers-surprise-with-fast-rising-qb

Damn that one feels pretty real..

[Aerolithe_Lion]

It begins:

 

https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/33803995/georgia-bulldogs-de-travon-walker-emerges-consensus-favorite-top-pick-nfl-draft-sportsbooks

 

Georgia defensive end Travon Walker has gone from long shot to the consensus odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in this week's NFL draft at sportsbooks around the nation.

[time2rock]

4 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

It begins:

 

https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/33803995/georgia-bulldogs-de-travon-walker-emerges-consensus-favorite-top-pick-nfl-draft-sportsbooks

 

Georgia defensive end Travon Walker has gone from long shot to the consensus odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in this week's NFL draft at sportsbooks around the nation.

Saw a few different sources thinking the Jags will go OT (linking Neal to them).  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

3 hours ago, time2rock said:

Saw a few different sources thinking the Jags will go OT (linking Neal to them).  

I know some will say that's a bad move as he's not considered the best player but I think that may be a good move. They need help on the OL and Hutchinson is not a can't miss prospect.

[Aerolithe_Lion]

13 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I know some will say that's a bad move as he's not considered the best player but I think that may be a good move. They need help on the OL and Hutchinson is not a can't miss prospect.

I think in general trading that pick will get you more value than having to pick from 3 OTs or 3 DEs when the other guys you almost took could fall out of the top 10.

 

Its entirely possible if they don’t take Walker he could be there at 11 or 12. For them to even consider that at 1 overall shows the issue with keeping that pick. If Im offered just another 1st by moving down in the top 10, even if all the way to 7 or 8, I’d seriously consider it. 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

12 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

I think in general trading that pick will get you more value than having to pick from 3 OTs or 3 DEs when the other guys you almost took could fall out of the top 10.

Fair point but to trade down that requires a trade partner... something I'm not sure they are going to find this year. This is not a good year to have the #1 pick. 

[jsdarkstar]

And PFF gives a B for drafting him at 15, LOL. 

[bitbased]

2 hours ago, jsdarkstar said:

And PFF gives a B for drafting him at 15, LOL. 

It's almost impossible to get an A on a pick that's not listed under the "Team Needs" unless if they dropped a lot and you pick them a round later. They only have our needs listed as LB and DB so anything outside those picks are pretty much defaulted to B+ or lower.

[jsdarkstar]

2 hours ago, bitbased said:

It's almost impossible to get an A on a pick that's not listed under the "Team Needs" unless if they dropped a lot and you pick them a round later. They only have our needs listed as LB and DB so anything outside those picks are pretty much defaulted to B+ or lower.

Yep. PFF also rips Georgia DT, Jordan Davis as a one trick pony, who can't rush the passer and was taken out on 3rd downs a lot. He also has weight issues. I mean Eagles fans Rip Cox because he doesn't get sacks. Is Jordan Davis going to be any better? 

Also, I think that Devonte Wyatt may be the better prospect at DT.