It took a little longer than many forecast, but Bulldog standout Jalon Walker ultimately heard his name called by the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the 15th pick in the first round of tonight’s NFL Draft.
What do the Falcons get with Walker?
At 6’2 and 243 pounds, Walker doesn’t exactly have an ideal NFL edge rusher’s physique. But he has a relentless motor and scheme versatility to spare. He’s also a guy who just makes plays, an underrated quality in a league obsessed with esoteric measurements.
Walker spent two seasons as a reserve inside linebacker behind a host of current NFL standouts before emerging as arguably the anchor of Georgia’s 2024 defense. The Salisbury, North Carolina product started 11 games for the SEC Champions, leading the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with 6.5 sacks. He played both on the edge and off ball, and was steady if not spectacular in coverage. Again, Walker is the type of player who can play any of a number of roles on a defense.
2 minutes of Georgia LB Jalon Walker absolutely getting after it on All-22:
• A well-rounded defensive leader with elite intangibles & unwavering effort. A true jack-of-all-trades for your team [More Below]
Hope You Enjoy… https://t.co/M4udmb1Vlb pic.twitter.com/HmETz0awTJ
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) April 4, 2025
Jalon Walker makes plays on the football field. There’s something to be said for a guy who gets after it in every play, and Walker is that guy. He emerged as a leader on the Bulldog defense in 2024, and as the son of a former college head coach has the football IQ and intangibles to play early and mesh well with the locker room.
Walker’s upfield and cross field explosiveness jump off the screen and will translate well to the pro game. But he still has work to do to grow into his obvious physical gifts. Walker is still refining his instincts off the ball, sometimes finding himself just a little out of position in zone coverage.
And while he’s explosive and strong Walker doesn’t have the size to go toe-to-toe with NFL tackles as an edge rusher, or the ideal length for an off the ball linebacker.
If the Falcons were drafting him as an every down 5 technique player I’d say they’d erred. But I don’t think that’s the plan. One man’s “tweener” is another’s “hybrid”, and the latter is the highest and best use for Walker’s skill set.
Walker’s natural explosiveness, positional flexibility and consistent production against SEC offenses make him a pretty safe bet for a Falcons team looking to augment an otherwise solid defense. Congratulations Jalon, and…
Go ‘Dawgs!!!