Position: EDGE
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 272 lbs
School: Georgia
NFL Combine Data:
40 Yard Dash: 4.51
Vertical Jump: 35.5
Broad Jump: 123
3 Cone: 6.89
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.32
Travon Walker NFL Draft Profile
A five-star recruit out of Thomaston Georgia, Walker is one of the rarest athletes in the 2022 NFL Draft class. He was selected to the 2019 All-American team during his final year in high school as a defensive lineman who could play multiple positions. He was also featured as a tight end and running back for Upson-Lee high school. Walker carried that momentum into his freshman year of college and made an instant impact on the Bulldogs’ defense.
In his first year of Division 1 football, Walker was named to the freshman All-SEC team. His biggest game of the season game in Georgia’s Sugar Bowl win over Baylor in which he recorded a sack and a fumble recovery. Then after a shortened 2020 season, Walker began to peak as a Junior in 2021. In his final year in Athens, he recorded career highs in tackles, sacks, tackles for loss, and led Georgia’s number-one ranked defense in quarterback hurries with 36.
Walker’s calling card is his unteachable traits. At 6’7″ 272 lbs, he has showcased his athleticism by playing as both a hand in the dirt lineman and a stand-up linebacker during his time with Georgia. Walker possesses a great blend of power and speed coming off of the edge. He uses his length, incredibly strong punch, and strength to box opposing players out and bull rush his way through tackles. His ability to shoot gaps to avoid double teams and stand-up tackles makes him a huge asset against the run.
While Walker is a head above a number of other EDGE’s in his class from an athletic point of view, he is not particularly refined as a pass rusher. He has very few counters and can struggle when his power and length are not enough to disengage from opposing tackles. However, coaches can not teach the physical traits Walker possesses. He could be a special three-down linebacker if a defensive coordinator is able to unlock his potential.
Strengths
- Long frame; practically built in the perfect mold of a modern-day EDGE defender
- Has played almost every position on the defensive line while remaining athletic enough to drop into coverage
- Uses his length incredibly well and can mix it with his power to create a scary bull rush
- Gives maximum effort and wants to finish plays that he is close to or directly involved in
- Excellent anchor ability and very sudden against the run
- Has moments in which he completely overwhelms tight ends (see rep against Brenden Bates of Kentucky)
Weaknesses
- Consistently lining up at different positions led him to be a master of none at Georgia
- Ultra reliant on his athleticism when attempting to beat opposing tackles and unrefined as a pass rusher
- Sometimes fails to properly wrap up when tackling, leading to missed sack and TFL opportunities
- Relatively twitched-up player but does not have a particularly explosive get off
- Does not show very much bend when coming off of the edge
NFL Comparison: Rashan Gary
Teams with need at the position: Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: First round
Bottom Line on Travon Walker
Walker is a rare athlete with incredible length, who brings a ton of positional versatility off of the edge. He is a high effort player with violent hands that uses his power to devastate tackles at the point of attack. His run defense needs work but he has the strength to stand up tackles before disengaging and making a play on the running back. Walker’s success in the NFL will likely be predicated on the coaching he receives after he is drafted. While he lined up in many different ways at Georgia, he could be far more effective if he get more reps from a single position as a pro. Walker has every tool to be an elite 3-4 linebacker at the next level and will best succeed in an environment that properly utilizes his rare athletic traits.
Games Watched: Clemson (2021), Auburn (2021), Kentucky (2021), Alabama (SEC CCG 2021)
Main Image:
