Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jalon Walker landed with the Atlanta Falcons in the first-round of the 2025 NFL draft. Walker, who has already signed his rookie contract, is expected to have an immediate impact on the Falcons’ defense.
Atlanta has struggled to have a strong pass rushing unit for the better part of the past decade. The Falcons invested a lot of resources in the their pass rush this offseason to turn one of their biggest weaknesses into a strength.
The Falcons have not had a player record more than 10 sacks since Vic Beasley posted 15 1/2 sacks in 2016. Last year, Atlanta recorded only 31 sacks, which ranked second-to-last in the NFL. This offseason, Atlanta not only spent a pair of first-round picks on SEC pass rushers, but also signed former Georgia standout Leonard Floyd.
USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon predicts that Jalon Walker will have an instant impact and be a breakout rookie for the Falcons this year.
“The team made a concerted effort to address the area of weakness this offseason with the free agency addition of Leonard Floyd and drafting Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round,” said Dragon. “Walker can create pressure from multiple areas.”
Walker’s versatility was evident throughout his career at Georgia and he’ll be an interesting chess piece for the Falcons’ defense to move around.