The Jacksonville Jaguars signed defensive end Travon Walker to a big contract extension earlier this offseason. So as he heads into his fifth NFL season, what does Liam Coen want to see from Walker this upcoming season?
“Anytime you deal with a bunch of injuries and don’t have as much production as you’d like, I think he’s attacked it the right way. It’s so hard in this setting — like I told him, I want to be able to take you off the field, and it’s very challenging until we get pads on to actually do that without disrupting everything we’re doing. I’ve been pleased with him. I still want him when he’s in those situations and settings to just go. That’s something we want to continue to see.”
Coen told Walker after the 2025 season that he wants to have to remove him from the practice field because he is being so disruptive that the offense cannot get anything done.
Walker has continued to ascend during his NFL career and has provided a very steady and productive pass-rush presence. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he logged double-digit sacks each season and ranked in the top-25 among edge rushers in quarterback pressures each year.
His raw production totals from 2025 dipped and won’t leap off the stat sheet, but Walker missed time due to injuries, and there were a few games where he was on the field but in a rotational capacity as he worked his way back.
To go along with his pass rush production, Walker has made a big impact against the run, ranking tied for ninth in PFF’s run stop rate in 2025. He adds versatility to the defensive front as well, with Anthony Campanile able to move Walker up and down the defensive front as needed.
“We were the No. 1 rush defense last year for a reason – he was a huge part of that. Now, we gotta be able to stop the run at a high clip and rush the passer as well at a high clip, which is not going to be fully seen right now, but I’ve been very pleased with the competitor in terms of how he’s approached it, his three better/best, his film study is something he’s trying to improve upon and getting better at — not just of the opponent but of himself.
“Just continuing to educate, but I’ve been pleased with the way that — I think he’s in a place where, okay, they like me, and not just that, do they like me? Do they not? He knows he’s someone that we want to have here for a while and it’s like dude, now let’s go be you and let it rip and cut it loose, and hopefully we’ll see more of that when the pads are on and he can actually go play.”
Walker’s extension was a four-year deal worth $110 million, and included $77 million in guarantees. He is now under contract with the Jaguars through the 2030 season.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: What Liam Coen wants to see from Jaguars DE Travon Walker in 2026
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
