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LOOK: Georgia product, No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker unveils NFL jersey number

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax04/30/22

BarkleyTruax

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Mark Brown/Getty Images

Travon Walker is quickly finding himself at home in Jacksonville, already choosing the jersey number he’ll wear for the Jaguars for next season. The draft’s No. 1 overall selection will wear No. 44 for the Jaguars, the same from his Georgia days.

Walker is set to sign a four-year $37.3 million contract with Jaguars in the coming weeks. The deal would also include a $24.6 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option. The 2022 salary cap hit will be just $6.8 million, while the entire deal will come fully guaranteed at signing.

While the 6-foot-5 outside linebacker didn’t have the statistics (37 tackles, 6 sacks) other pass rushers amassed, his untapped athletic potential had franchises salivating. Throughout the NFL Draft process, Walker has steadily climbed up boards, elevating into one of the top prospects in the entire class before overtaking former Michigan star Aidan Hutchinson for the odds on favorite to land in Jacksonville just days before draft day.

Despite reports of Walker being involved in a serious car accident less than two weeks before draft night, the former Bulldog defensive star seems unharmed and ready to get to work in his new NFL home.

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The crash occurred on April 16 in Athens, Georgia, where Walker lost control of his vehicle before crashing into two other vehicles, both of which were parked with no occupants inside. The accident took place at around 11 p.m. in a 35 MPH zone. According to TMZ, the accident report said that Walker was not drinking, was not tested for alcohol or drugs, and was not cited. He also was not injured in the accident. His car was towed and was disabled in the crash, though.

Now healthy, Walker has to deal with the pressure and responsibility of being a cornerstone for this Jaguars rebuilding effort that now have selected No. 1 overall in two consecutive seasons.

“I’m definitely prepared for it. Being the No. 1 overall pick, there’s definitely a lot of expectations that come with that,” Walker said on Thursday night while meeting with media after the pick. “I’m one that it’s just a game of football to me. I’m just going to continue doing what I’ve been doing, giving my all to the game of football because that’s something that I love to do and not make it any more pressure than it should be.”