Vegas has recently updated their odds on who Jacksonville is going to take number one and it has me perplexed. Covers.com has Jacksonville at -190 to take Georgia defensive end Travon Walker. Now this thought makes me shutter on so many different levels, but I’ll get into that in a second. If this pick actually occurs, leave it to Jacksonville to mangle another top five pick.
Jadeveon Clowney 2.0
It’s like I’m in the Twilight Zone. PLEASE SOMEONE SAVE ME! When I think of Travon Walker going number one overall, I get immediate flashbacks to the 2014 NFL Draft when Jadeveon Clowney was picked number one. They both had average junior seasons; Clowney recorded 41 tackles and 3 sacks while Walker tallied 37 tackles and 6 sacks. The reason that Clowney went number one though is the same reason Walkers draft stock has raised; the “freak athlete” factor.
Both players have similar statures as Walker stands at 6’5, 275 pounds and Clowney was 6’5, 266 pounds. Their combine numbers are also extremely similar. Look at the 40 yard dash. Clowney ran a 4.53 second 40 and Walker ran a 4.51 second 40. Walker’s broad jump was 123 inches, Clowney’s was 124 inches. It is a spitting image.
Clowney was taken number one overall by Houston in 2014 and since then in 97 games over 8 seasons, the former Gamecock has tallied 41 sacks with the Texans, Seahawks, Titans, and Browns. That’s an average of 5.1 per year. While that isn’t awful, some missing context from this is how inconsistent Clowney is. He’s had 3 seasons of 9 or more sacks and 4 under 5 sacks.
Don’t Swing And Miss…Again
If you look at the Jaguars roster you can see that they need a lot; but their main priority should be to protect their 22 year old, golden haired gunslinger. That is why I think they should take the 351 pound monster Evan Neal out of Alabama or the very powerful Ikem Ekwonu. Maybe the Jaguars are set on a pass rusher. If that is the case, then they should take Aidan Hutchinson who had 14 sacks in 2021, or Kayvon Thibodeaux who had 7 sacks in 4 less games than Walker. I don’t understand how Walker is at the top of their draft board. I DON’T GET IT!
Since 2010, the Jaguars have held 14 first round picks. Of those 14 players picked, 10 of them ended up on new teams or out of the league in just a few seasons. The only ones they’re holding onto still are Josh Allen, K’Lavon Chaisson, Trevor Lawrence, and Travis Etienne.
Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu aren’t going to be the quick fix in Jacksonville, but neither is Travon Walker. The only difference between them is that Neal and Ekwonu will protect the Jaguars future and their prized possession; Walker won’t.
What Are The Odds?
Covers.com has Walker to the Jaguars at number one at -190. But who are the other players still in the mix? Michigan defensive end sits at +225 which makes it seem like pass rusher is the primary position of interest for Doug Pederson’s squad. The next two are the two best pass protectors in the draft; Ikem Ekwonu is listed at +450 and Evan Neal has dropped to +2,500.
One of the true outsiders in the race to go number one is Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux at +5,000. Then there are a handful at +10,000. This includes Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, Cincinnati corner Sauce Gardner, and Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross.
Do the right thing Trent Baalke.. Draft a freaking offensive tackle to keep Trevor Lawrence on his feet. While I hate Lawrence for beating Notre Dame in the 2020 ACC Championship game, I don’t want to see his career end early.