FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga — The Atlanta Falcons began rookie minicamp on Friday, providing Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., the team’s first-round picks in April’s draft, their first taste of work in the NFL.
It’s a flavor they found appealing.
“Just some work. Some good, successful hard work,” Walker said after practice when asked what would qualify as a successful minicamp. “Making sure I’m acclimated. Making sure I’m ahead of schedule. Ahead of the ball. Ahead of the playbook and everything.”
The Falcons spent the vast majority of the 2025 offseason adding to their defense, highlighted by selecting the two SEC pass rushers in the first round. Walker and Pearce represent the promise of a better future for a team that has long been seeking improvement in its pass rush.
But that primary goal can’t be accomplished on Day 1, and adjusting to life in the NFL can present a learning curve for rookies.
“The expectations of it all is really just to get the guys acclimated to how we do things,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “Get these guys acclimated to the lift so next week, when they’re with the vets, they don’t slow them down when they’re on their racks. Get these guys going on the grass, so they kind of feel the temperament of how we move around in practice.”
It’s only the beginning, but the Falcons believe both first-round rookies can become impact players early.
In his lone season as a starter for Georgia, Walker was a menace for offenses. He led the team with 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss while showcasing qualities that left those around him raving about his character. Pearce, meanwhile, was considered one of the most athletically gifted pass rushers in this draft, and his get-off is unmatched. He had 17.5 sacks for Tennessee over the last two seasons.
“Just be effective,” Pearce said when asked about his Year 1 expectations. “I’m not going to put numbers on it or stuff like that. Everybody knows the sky’s the limit, so I’ve just got to work. Whatever I get out of it, that’s the work I put into it.”