The Atlanta Falcons addressed their biggest need on draft night, selecting Georgia’s Jalon Walker with the No. 15 pick to boost their struggling pass rush. The selection makes franchise history as Walker becomes the first Georgia defender drafted by Atlanta in the first round.
Walker gives the Falcons defensive flexibility as both an edge rusher and linebacker.
“Call him an edge rusher. Call him a linebacker. Call him a hybrid of the two. Whatever you call him, just make sure you use the word ‘versatile’ when describing his play, because that’s exactly what it is,” wrote Tori McElhaney.
Walker’s availability at 15 surprised many draft analysts who projected him to be selected earlier.
The Falcons weren’t done addressing their pass rush needs. They executed a trade with the Los Angeles Rams later in the first round.
“The Falcons swapped picks with the Rams, giving up quite the haul to move back into the first round to select defensive end James Pearce Jr. at No. 26,” MTPeterson wrote.
This aggressive move aligned with reports that Atlanta was targeting either Pearce or Walter Nolen despite character concerns surrounding both prospects.
Pearce was once projected as the potential top overall pick following last season. His draft stock fell after negative reports emerged about off-field issues.
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“There aren’t 25 players better than James Pearce Jr. in this draft. If he grows up and behaves like a professional, that’s a steal of a pick. But he’ll have to grow up in Atlanta. So … we’ll see,” Wes Rucker posted.
Pearce’s talent isn’t in question. The other 31 teams passed on him due to character concerns and inconsistent on-field performance that made him a high-risk selection.
