FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — In the months leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, one prospect continually drew comparisons to Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons.

That player was Penn State's Abdul Carter, whose school ties and play style made the comparison obvious. There is another prospect, however, whose game is not only reminiscent of Parsons' but actively enriched by it — Jalon Walker, the Falcons' first-round draft pick.

"Me being able to be versatile is what I do and what he does as well," Walker said when asked about Parsons during his introductory press conference. "I learned well from his style of play. I feel like I take pieces from everybody who I look at to make the best version of myself."

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While it's virtually impossible to compare any college player to Parsons, who is widely regarded as one of the NFL's best defensive disruptors, it's easy to envision Walker making plays in a multitude of ways. The way in which he could most benefit the Falcons early on, though, is as a pass rusher.

In his first and only season as a starter for the University of Georgia, Walker showed the potential to become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. While playing linebacker, he led the Bulldogs in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (11) and defensive pressures (34).

The Falcons successfully deployed a player with similar versatility last year in Kaden Ellis, who was the only NFL defender with five sacks and more than 150 tackles. Pairing Elliss with Walker gives Atlanta two players in the middle of their defense who can line up everywhere before the snap and move anywhere after it.

Walker's desire for knowledge and improvement means that he is already practiced in learning from and emulating others. It has also helped him develop connections with the very best.

"He is a great asset for me, being the person he is," Walker said of Parsons. "As a hard worker, being a great player, a great person – most definitely a great person — and just giving me advice during the whole process."

Versatility is the hallmark of Walker's game, and it's the reason why Atlanta hopes he can be a multiplier for their defensive performance. But versatility can also be a double-edged sword.

Throughout NFL history, there have been many examples of players who were viewed as positive outliers — those with a combination of skills that would unlock new possibilities for the game — but ultimately never reached the potential others placed on them. For a player like Walker who can seemingly do everything, how do you make certain he's being used in the best possible way?

That's something the Falcons will be mindful of once the coaching staff is able to begin working with their newest players.

"Part of his superpower is his versatility," Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. "I think sometimes that superpower can be his kryptonite too, because he has amazing aptitude to learn. He's an athlete that can do a lot of different things, but he has amazing football IQ. He's a coach's son. He's been raised with this game. And sometimes, as a coach, you get that type of player, you just keep throwing things at him, because he can just handle it. And I'd really like him to get an opportunity to really master some stuff here before we start using the Swiss Army knife."

Fortunately, the presence of Ellis and other linebackers like Divine Deablo and Troy Andersen means that Walker doesn't have to bite off everything at once. And the group of pass rushers Atlanta has assembled, which includes the team’s second first-round pick, James Pearce Jr., should also help identify where he best fits early on.

Wherever he begins his journey with the Falcons, Walker is a player with the character, mindset and ability to quickly become a defining presence on their defense. How he comes to define the unit will be individually unique, despite the natural comparisons to some of the league's best.

Most coaches actively avoid living in the world of comparisons, so it should come as no surprise that Falcons head coach Raheem Morris pushed back on that level of projection, preferring Walker to write his own script.

"To compare him to that type of greatness, put that type of pressure on this young man would be unfair," Morris said. "I think you've got to let him come out and be the best version of himself, which I know he will because of who he is … So, he'll have some Micah Parson-like features, and I'll let him determine what he can be when he gets to this league and gets to this level. "

What Walker can be on Day 1 for Atlanta is a promising young player with the qualities to benefit a pass rush that finished with the second-fewest sacks in 2024, and true sideline-to-sideline range.

Where he goes from there is up to Walker, whose reputation suggests he is up for attacking the NFL learning curve.

"My standards are high for myself," Walker said. "That's just what I'm proud of, but me and Micah are two separate people. Micah is Micah. But I am Jalon Walker, myself, and I do emulate him in some ways of just versatility and game, but I do think I have a different niche to myself."