Top draft prospect draws another comp to former Lion Ezekiel Ansah

Aug 17, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) warms up before a game against the New York Giants at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) warms up before a game against the New York Giants at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Travon Walker drew one comparison to Ezekiel Ansah, and one of the top prospects in the 2022 draft has drawn a second comp to the former Lion.

It’s hard to call Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah an outright draft bust, since he did have some nice seasons. But his run was certainly shorter than the Detroit Lions would haved liked, after taking him fifth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He wound up playing six seasons in Detroit, and was out of the league entirely last season.

Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker is one of the top prospects in the 2022 draft, and it looks increasingly likely he’ll be drafted No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. His lack of production in college is a concern, but his usage in a loaded Bulldogs’ defense has to be noted and considered. On upside and tools alone, he’ll be at worst a top-10 pick.

A few weeks ago, Justin Rogers of the Detroit News answered a mailbag question regarding Walker by offering Ansah as a comp.

Daniel Jeremiah compares Travon Walker to Ezekiel Ansah

On a conference call last week, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah cited Ansah when talking about Walker as a possibility for the Lions at No. 2 overall.

"Again, real rugged, physical player. Be kind of ironic, because if you look for players that have gone in the first round with some of the limited production that he has, maybe kind of one of those upside picks. The Lions with Ziggy Ansah is probably as good an example as any and was a really, really good player."

From two perspectives, a beat writer who covers the Lions and a draft analyst who’s a former NFL scout, Walker has drawn a comparison to Ansah. That is interesting. And from a certain angle it’s concerning, depending on what someone’s broad thoughts on Ansah are/were.

Walker is a major risk-reward pick at the top of this draft. The comps to Ansah only confirm it further.

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