Mel Kiper: Will Anderson Jr. would've been No. 1 overall pick over Travon Walker in 2022

Former Georgia star Travon Walker saw his name rise up the 2022 NFL Draft boards to eventually go No. 1 overall. But ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks another player would’ve been the top pick — if he was eligible, of course.

During an appearance on This Just In with Max Kellerman, Kiper said Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. would’ve topped the draft board if he was eligible this year. Anderson has to wait until the 2023 NFL Draft to test the waters, but Kiper already listed him among his top picks for that group on his updated Big Board rankings. The question will be if Anderson will wind up being the top overall pick, and that depends on which team selects No. 1 overall.

“Yes, Max. Definitive yes,” Kiper said. “He’s a finisher. The sack potential that Travon Walker may have with sack production with Will Anderson Jr. and a complete player, Max. 34.5 tackles for loss. He was tremendously impactful against the run. His character is off the charts. When you put it all together, he’s clearly the No. 1 player in the draft.

“Will he be the No. 1 pick overall? That remains to be seen. If the team that’s picking No. 1 needs a quarterback, you’ve got some big-timers up there at the top that you would take the quarterback. But just on ability, player, rankings, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find anybody that goes ahead of Will Anderson Jr. come late April of 2023.”

Walker and Anderson both competed in the 2021 College Football Playoff national championship this year — a 33-18 Georgia victory. Anderson had four total tackles while Walker had three along with one sack.

As the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Walker headed to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the top pick for the second year in a row. He’ll team up with Jaguars EDGE Josh Allen to form quite a one-two punch in Jacksonville.