Who would you consider the X-factor this season for the Jacksonville Jaguars? PFF made their selection.
Who would you consider the X-factor this season for the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Pro Football Focus recently answered that question for each of the 32 NFL teams, and when it came to the Jaguars, they selected defensive end Travon Walker.
“Walker’s 10.5 sacks were the 11th most among all edge defenders, while his 56 pressures tied for the 18th most,” wrote PFF. “This will be a massive season for him to prove whether he can become a superstar like his draft position warrants.”
We’ve already seen Walker take a step forward over these last two seasons. Since his rookie year in 2022, Walker has posted 115 combined pressures during the 2023 and 2024 seasons and has hit the double-digit sack mark each year as well.
Also not to be forgotten about is that Walker has held up well in the run game, ranking 14th in run-stops last season, according to PFF.
While the raw numbers rank well, if there is an area of opportunity for Walker to help him hit that next level, it’s in the consistency with which he wins his matchups. In PFF’s pass rush win rate metric, which as it sounds, measures how often a defender is beating their blocker, Walker ranked 49th last season.
Helping Walker’s production should be the new scheme under new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. As defensive tackle Maason Smith described recently, there is less reading and reacting in this system for the defensive front, and it’s more about getting off the ball and going.
GM James Gladstone also alluded to earlier this offseason that there would be additional movement up front to help create more favorable matchups for the defensive linemen to exploit. As it pertains to Walker, this could mean more snaps inside during obvious passing situations.
The one-two punch that is Walker and Josh Hines-Allen already forms one of the more productive pass rush duos in the NFL. However, as a collective unit, the Jaguars need more from their defensive line group this season, and Walker taking another step forward could be a key factor in that equation.
A steady push from the defensive line changes can change the entire complexion of a game. Slowing the run puts the offense in predictable passing situations, while getting after the quarterback is the name of the game. The other 10 defenders all benefit when a defensive tackle or defensive end is causing havoc.