From April 28-30, 2022, Caesars Forum in Paradise, Nevada hosted the 87th edition of the National Football League Draft. A new chance for young college players to join the best franchises in American football.
With a few days of hindsight, we wanted to look back at the 2022 NFL Draft. Like every year, the world’s biggest football league welcomed the best youngsters from various American universities. In order to go further, to dissect the choices of the league’s multiple franchises, The Circular had the pleasure of receiving Cheikh Mbengue from the French media Momentum.
Spotlight on first-round pick Travon Walker
For the second straight season, the Jaguars had the first pick in the draft. With that pick, Jacksonville got Travon Walker. While the predictions for several weeks had been Aidan Hutchinson, it’s finally the Georgia defensive lineman.
Effective in the Bulldogs’ national title game, Travon Walker was able to turn a lot of heads during the draft process, due to his sheer size and athleticism. He is one of those new defenders with extraordinary physical dimensions and a performance that is both progressive and consistent. More often used as a defensive end, he is extremely versatile and can also attack close to the guards to put pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Despite the progress he showed in 2021, in a defence armed to the teeth, Walker still has work to do to become an elite pass rusher. His one-on-one technique is a particular problem. Against tougher, more athletic offensive linemen, Walker can quickly neglect his hand placement and especially his centre of gravity, effectively eliminating himself from the action. This choice may seem surprising, but with such a high ceiling and physical qualities, it seems that Trent Baalke and Doug Pederson have made the right choice for the future.
