The No. 1 pick in the 202 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.
More to come…
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