FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — With the No. 15 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.
Walker may have been just a one-year starter for Kirby Smart, but his overall impact and playmaking ability makes him arguably the top edge rusher/linebacker not named Abdul Carter in this year's class. Despite his smaller frame when compared to other edge rushers, Walker's upside is exactly what he showed at Georgia: An ability to consistently put a quarterback under pressure.
Walker led Georgia's defense in almost every pass-rushing stat line, like that of total pressures and pass rush win percentage. That's all well and good, but what's most interesting about this note is that Walker only had the seventh-most pass-rush snaps on the team. And yet, he constantly found ways either by design or by effort to get to the quarterback.
Let's learn more about the newest member of the Falcons defense.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 243 lbs
Age: 21
School: University of Georgia
2024 Stats: 11 starts | 60 total tackles (10.5 for a loss) | 6.5 sacks | 2 passes defended
Honors: 2024 third-team All-American | 2024 second-team All-SEC | 2024 Butkus Award winner
How he fits with the Falcons: Call him an edge rusher. Call him a linebacker. Call him a hybrid of the two. Whatever you call him, just make sure you know to use the word "versatile" when describing his play, because that's exactly what it is. Walker is the type of player defensive coordinators would love to move around the front-seven while putting creative rush plans together for him. This tracks for why the Falcons would want him seeing as what they've liked to do with Kaden Elliss in the past. For Walker, that's a role that he values himself, saying he is at his best when he's used as a chess piece. For the Falcons, continuing to unlock his potential in this way — as a hybrid, chess piece of sorts — could pay dividends for what the Falcons could do defensively.
Expert Opinions
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: "As a blitzer or wide rusher, Walker can be stonewalled at times, but his arc speed and length can be weaponized as a pass rusher. He is a tremendous space athlete and covers a ton of ground with his fluid change of direction. He plays with the range and physicality to work through the trash and make plays near the line of scrimmage, although offenses know how to occupy his eyes and get him out position in coverage. Overall, Walker doesn't have elite size for edge work, but he is at his best using his long, sleek athleticism to explode downhill and close at the top of his rush to affect the quarterback."
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network: "Walker is a compact, powerful defender with length and explosiveness. He played both on and off the ball in the Georgia defensive scheme, but he's at his best on the edge. As a pass rusher, he can win with pure speed, power and an explosive counter move. He's also a weapon when used to spy the quarterback. He can mirror the QB's movement before closing the space in a hurry. He dominated in the Bulldogs' first meeting against Texas during the 2024 season. He's a firm edge-setter against the run. When he's stacked off the ball, he's a touch late to key/diagnose, but he can attack and take on blocks or scrape over the top for tackles."
If you'd like to learn more:
- Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker can do way more than just be dominant on defense - (Mark Schlabach, ESPN)
- Why Georgia’s Jalon Walker is NFL’s next great defensive chess piece - (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team)
- Salisbury High School linebacker, Georgia Bulldog commit forging own football legacy - (Steve Lyttle, The Charlotte Observer)
We take a look at Jalon Walker in action prior to being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sets up for a play against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) follows a play against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Scenes from the SEC Championship game between #2 Texas and #5 Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, December 7, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Scenes from #1 Georgia vs #14 Clemson during the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, August 31, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sacks TCU quarterback Max Duggan (15) during the second half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Scenes from #1 Georgia vs #14 Clemson during the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, August 31, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) follows a play against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) works against Florida offensive lineman Austin Barber (58) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Scenes from #1 Georgia vs #14 Clemson during the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, August 31, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) celebrates his sacking of TCU quarterback Max Duggan during the second half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (2) celebrates his sack with Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game against Ohio State, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) blocks Kent State punter Josh Smith's (96) punt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Athens, Ga. The ball went out of the end zone for a safety. (AP Photo/ John Bazemore)
Scenes from #1 Georgia vs #14 Clemson during the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, August 31, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sacks Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (10) runs against Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) celebrates after a fourth down stop during the second half against Notre Dame in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Scenes from the SEC Championship game between #2 Texas and #5 Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, December 7, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
