
Could the Carolina Panthers bolster the defensive line by selecting Travon Walker at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL draft if he is still available?
The Carolina Panthers have spent plenty of draft capital the past two seasons trying to improve their defense. The entire 2020 class consisted of defensive players and the organization also spent its first-round pick in 2021 on cornerback Jaycee Horn.
Despite all that, there’s still room for improvement. The 2022 NFL Draft is headlined by star-studded defensive prospects including Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker, who has been one of the biggest draft risers over the past few months.
Prior to the NFL Scouting Combine in March, Walker was being mocked in the late first round. Now, he’s arguably a top-five pick, and for good reason.
He’s long, athletic, and possesses an extremely high motor to chase down the ball carrier in the open field. The Panthers have had success in recent years drafting defensive ends in the first round, but whether they’ll pull the trigger again with needs at left tackle and quarterback is another matter.
Brian Burns has developed really well and established himself as an elite defensive end on the Panthers’ defense. However, a fellow counterpart working alongside him remains an open competition with Haason Reddick signing a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles after spending one season with Carolina.
Other than Burns, the Panthers have two edge rushers under contract with notable playing experience in Marquis Haynes and Yetur Gross-Matos. Both are likely to receive rotational snaps next season, but neither has consistently proven to be quality starters in the NFL.
This could lead the Panthers to someone like Walker, who looks more than capable of achieving great things in the NFL. Carolina has a lot of needs to fill on the roster, but if prospects like Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu are all gone before No. 6 overall, the Georgia product could provide an additional spark to keep Phil Snow’s group among the top defensive units in the league.
With that in mind, let’s take an in-depth look at Walker as a draft prospect and determine how he could help the Panthers.