Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) runs off the field after the game of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Texans 17-10. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

3 Instant Observations to Jaguars' Travon Walker Deal

Originally posted on Jacksonville Jaguars on SI
By John Shipley | Last updated Apr 3, 2026 5:35 PM ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Travon Walker is in Jacksonville to stay.

The Jaguars officially signed Walker to a four-year extension on Friday, keeping him in Jacksonville for the long-term as the former No. 1 pick has shone in recent years. But what do we make of the Walker deal?

If the Jaguars want to keep you, they will keep you

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Simply put, this Jaguars regime has shown us that if they want you in Jacksonville, you wil lremain in Jacksonville. The Jaguars have kept a number of players on big deals over the last year, including Walker, Jakobi Meyers, Cole Van Lanen, and Montaric Brown. The Jaguars identified every single one of these players as foundation pieces, and it seems like there was never a chance for any of them to hit free agency at really any point. That says something about how the Jaguars operate.

Considering the Jaguars have had other big names leave like Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd, it is clear to see the Jaguars made concious decisions not to retain them. Because if the Jaguars really wanted them back, then they would have come back as a result of the Jaguars' own decisions.

Walker pick aged well

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

When the Jaguars took Walker No. 1 overall in 2022, it caused quite the stir. Virtually no analyst had Walker over No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson, but the Jaguars' old brass believed in Walker's talent. Now that he is one of the only players in franchise history to sign a deal worth over $100 million, it is clear to say the pick has aged well.

Is Walker Hutchinson? Not quite, though they are different players. Hutchinson is a better pass-rusher, while Walker is the better run defender. The pass-rush difference matters, but Walker is a core piece of the Jaguars' future for a reason. This pick has gone down as a hit, no matter how you look at it.

Who is next?

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Jaguars can now turn their extension focus elsewhere with Walker's deal wrapped up. Anton Harrison will finish out his season before the Jaguars are likely to engage in contract talks, which means the next logical names are Brenton Strange and Parker Washington, each of whom the Jaguars have shown interest in signing to new deals.

My prediction? This is a gut call, but I say Brenton Strange gets his deal done during training camp, while Washington's comes during the season. The Jaguars have some good decisions to make moving forward.

This article first appeared on Jacksonville Jaguars on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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