2022 NFL Draft
Sauce Gardner's Lockdown and the Travon Walker Reach
What Happened vs What Should've Happened
Compare the original draft order with career-based re-rankings
The Scenario
Jacksonville took Travon Walker #1 — a projection pick over proven talent. The Jets grabbed Sauce Gardner at #4 and watched him become the best corner in football immediately.Two years in: Sauce is DROY + All-Pro. Walker is... still developing? The Jets won. Jacksonville is still reaching.
Travon Walker
#1 • Jaguars
Aidan Hutchinson
#2 • Lions
Sauce Gardner
#4 • Jets
Garrett Wilson
#10 • Jets
Sauce Gardner → New York Jets (#4)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC (Jeff Ulbrich's scheme) | 85/100 | 18% | 15.3 |
| D-Line Support (Quinnen Williams) | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| CB Room (D.J. Reed pairing) | 88/100 | 15% | 13.2 |
| HC (Robert Saleh's DB background) | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| Scheme Freedom | 92/100 | 12% | 11.0 |
| Team Defensive Identity | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| Media Market Challenge | 75/100 | 10% | 7.5 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 87.5 | ||
What Happened
Sauce was immediately the best corner in football. DROY, All-Pro, shutdown coverage with rare ball skills. The Jets built a defense around their corners, let Sauce travel with WR1s, and he erased them. Saleh's DB background + strong D-line + clear defensive identity = perfect environment for a generational corner.
Aidan Hutchinson → Detroit Lions (#2)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Dan Campbell's energy) | 92/100 | 15% | 13.8 |
| DC (Aaron Glenn's scheme) | 88/100 | 18% | 15.8 |
| Defensive Investment | 85/100 | 15% | 12.8 |
| Hometown Connection | 95/100 | 12% | 11.4 |
| Team Culture Turnaround | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| GM Vision (Brad Holmes) | 88/100 | 15% | 13.2 |
| City Support | 90/100 | 10% | 9.0 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 89.0 | ||
What Happened
Hutch went home to Michigan and immediately became the face of the Lions' turnaround. Pro Bowl edge rusher, led with 11.5 sacks as a rookie. Campbell's culture + Detroit's investment in defense + playing for his hometown team = perfect motivation and environment. He's not just playing for the Lions — he's playing for Detroit.
Travon Walker → Jacksonville Jaguars (#1)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Doug Pederson) | 75/100 | 15% | 11.3 |
| DC (Mike Caldwell) | 60/100 | 18% | 10.8 |
| Development Plan | 55/100 | 15% | 8.3 |
| Production vs. Projection | 40/100 | 15% | 6.0 |
| D-Line Support | 65/100 | 12% | 7.8 |
| Patience for Growth | 60/100 | 15% | 9.0 |
| Sack Production Pressure | 45/100 | 10% | 4.5 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 56.8 | ||
What Happened
Walker had 9.5 sacks in his first two years combined — decent, not #1 overall numbers. Jacksonville bet on athletic upside over college production. The projection hasn't fully materialized yet. He's improving, but when you pass on proven pass rushers for "upside," you better be right. The jury's still out.
Travon Walker → Detroit Lions
The Alternate Timeline
Campbell's culture demands effort. Aaron Glenn could develop raw athleticism. The Lions' defensive investment would give Walker more support. Detroit's high-energy environment might have unlocked more of Walker's potential faster. But he'd still need time — and Detroit had Hutch waiting as the perfect fit anyway.
The 2022 Edge/CB Class
Sauce (NYJ #4)
DROY, All-Pro
Hutch (DET #2)
Pro Bowl
Walker (DET)
Hypothetical
Walker (JAX #1)
Still developing
Hypothetical point swing: Walker in Detroit vs. Jacksonville
The Verdict
Traditional Re-Draft Says:
"Sauce #1, Hutchinson #2, Garrett Wilson #3, Walker drops to 8-10"
Contextual Re-Draft Says:
"The Jets created the perfect environment for a lockdown corner. Detroit created the perfect environment for an edge rusher. Jacksonville bet on projection and is still waiting for the payoff."
2022 shows why fit matters more than athleticism. Sauce fit the Jets' defensive identity perfectly. Hutch fit Detroit's culture and hometown narrative. Walker fit Jacksonville's hope for upside — but hope isn't a strategy. Take the proven talent in the right context.