What’s next for Travon Walker?

The 2025 season was an unexpected success for the Jaguars defense, allowing the eighth-fewest points and forcing the second-most turnovers. Individually, however, Travon Walker had a disappointing season, totaling just 3.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. He began the season strong, racking up two sacks and four quarterback hits through the first four games. In Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, he suffered a left-wrist injury that required surgery, forcing him to miss Week 5. This injury required him to wear a club on his left hand throughout the remainder of the season, significantly hampering his production.

Over the next five games, Walker recorded just 0.5 sacks before missing two straight games with a knee injury. After back-to-back 10-sack seasons, a third excellent year would have put him in line for a lucrative contract extension. Instead, Walker fought through injuries and took a step back, and his contract extension timeline is now uncertain.

Three options

The Jaguars picked up Walker’s fifth-year option in 2025, keeping him under contract through the 2026 season. If Walker has another disappointing season, the Jaguars could opt to use the franchise tag, forcing him to play on a one-year prove it deal in 2027. However, waiting can also carry much more risk. If the Jaguars opt to wait on paying Walker, he could put together a career season, dramatically increasing his leverage and commanding top-of-the-market money. An alternative would be to buy low, paying him while his market value is not at its highest and securing a team-friendly deal. Extending Walker before his contract year could result in a deal on the lower end of the pass rusher market, paying approximately $15 to $20 million per season.

How the Jaguars can help