The Atlanta Falcons were 31st in the NFL in team sacks (31) and knew that wasn't a recipe for success. That's why they actively pursued pass rushers in free agency and the NFL draft.
They signed Morgan Fox and Leonard Floyd in March before doubling down in the draft with Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.
With training camp slated to start on July 23 for the Falcons, Walker is already looking like a terrific addition to the roster.
Jalon Walker Looks Poised to Make an Impact in 2025
Walker was selected with the 15th overall pick by Atlanta and quickly caught the attention of his head coach, Raheem Morris. During OTAs, Morris stated, "You just tell him something, and he does it the first time every single time. He goes out and is able to get that stuff done. So, that stuff has been absolutely amazing and awesome with him.”
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich highlighted how excited he is about Walker's versatility and plans to unleash that on the Falcons' defense.
"On first and second down, I want, especially Jalon, to really have an opportunity to just master playing on the edge because I think that there’s something there that’s really special. Give him an opportunity just to have one home initially and become as good as he can at that. Then, from a third-down perspective, we can get creative with him, and that’ll be part of his superpower."Jeff Ulbrich
Walker's athleticism jumps out on the field, which is why he played multiple positions in college that included inside linebacker, outside linebacker, and edge rusher.
Over 43 games at Georgia, Walker had 89 total tackles, 18 TFLs, and 12.5 sacks. The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote in The Beast draft guide, "There is projection involved with his evaluation, but his pass-rush upside and overall versatility make him one of the best talents in the class," in regard to Walker.
Many people believed he was slated to be a top 10 pick, but since he fell to No. 15 for Atlanta, he's thrilled to be playing in the same state where he played his college ball.
Ulbrich helped Will McDonald IV and Quinnen Williams log double-digit sacks during his time with the Jets, and coaching a guy with Walker's traits is super exciting, which is why fans should be pumped about Walker's skillset paired with Ulbrich's coaching style. It didn't take long for coaches to see the potential he has, and it won't take long for fans, either.