NFL stats expert compares Travon Walker vs Aidan Hutchinson

With less than 24 hours remaining before the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock to kick off the 2022 NFL Draft, much speculation has gone into who will be selected with the No. 1 overall pick. Georgia‘s Travon Walker? Or Michigan‘s Aidan Hutchinson?

NFL stats expert Warren Sharp compared the two defensive stars in five categories: edge pressure rate, pass-rush win rater on 3rd & 4+, percent of pressures that were unblocked/cleanup, 3-cone speed and arm width. Hutchinson took the cake 3-2 in the comparison.

Travon Walker vs Aidan Hutchinson

edge pressure rate:
– TW: 9%
– AH: 18% <

pass-rush win rate on 3rd & 4+:
– TW: 11%
– AH: 24% <

% of pressures that were unblocked/cleanup:
– TW: 49%
– AH: 25% <

3-cone:
– TW: 6.89
– AH: 6.73 <

same 10 time

arm:
– TW: 35 1/2 <
– AH: 32 1/8

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 26, 2022

Hutchinson, who played in 43 career games at Michigan, was a Consensus All-American in 2021 and a two-time All-Big Ten honoree. He was also twice named a captain of the team and has a laundry list of other awards he racked up following this past season. Hutchinson is the program record-holder for sacks in a single season, notching 14 for the Wolverines in 2021. His play earned him runner-up honors in the Heisman Trophy race, but it looks as though Walker might be favored over the Michigan record-breaker.

“The belief around the league is Jacksonville prefers the upside and traits of Walker over the proven production, motor and leadership that Hutchinson brings to the table,” McShay said. “And it is nearly a lock that one of them will come off the board first.

“But Walker’s versatility, length, speed, explosion and strength could be the difference for the Jaguars. Execs around the NFL tell me Jacksonville just loves his upside, even though Walker (six sacks and 29 pressures) didn’t fill the stat sheet like Hutchinson did in 2021.”

The six-foot-five, 275-pound defensive end amassed 37 total tackles, six sacks and two pass deflections during his final season. While those aren’t exactly eye-popping numbers for a potential No. 1 overall pick, Walker played in the trenches with multiple Bulldog defenders that are expected to hear their names called over the draft’s first two nights. He was forced to share the love and it paid off.

“I feel great about that,” Walker said when asked about the possibility of being selected No. 1 overall. “I truly feel it’s a blessing be in the position that people are talking about me being number one. Coming from a lot of people really sleeping on me to a lot of people saying I may go number one is truly a blessing.”

But if it doesn’t happen, he’ll be ready to serve wherever he is called, though it he likely won’t have to wait long at all.

“It wouldn’t bother me too much, because at the end of the day, I’m just blessed to be in this position. Coming from college and going to the NFL and get paid to do something that I love to do, I really can’t complain about that,” Walker said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of my whole life. Just to be able to play in the NFL is truly a blessing.”