The Atlanta Falcons made it known to the league that they were looking to fix the struggle of getting to the quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft but they needed to find the right player to make that happen.
Sitting at the 15th overall pick, the Falcons knew they needed some help to have an impact player to fall to them and the football gods complied as former Georgia Bulldog Jalon Walker when they were on the clock.
The No. 2 edge rusher prospect in this year's draft according to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, that pick looked like a steal when it was made. Now that we are two weeks into the NFL season, it already looks like they made the right call.
Falcons' Jalon Walker Already Emerging as One of Falcons' Biggest Draft Steals
Walker has not started off with the flashiest of numbers, but he's has been all that Atlanta needs him to be in the first two weeks. Walker's presence was enough to not only have the attention drawn towards him but still make an impact even with opposing teams trying to stop him. After a slow start versus Tampa Bay, Atlanta's defense came out and shined versus Minnesota.
The Falcons forced four turnovers while also recording six sacks in the game, with Walker contributing with a sack of his own. The attention drawn towards Walker was able to open up opportunities for guys like Zach Harrison and fellow rookie James Pearce Jr. to rush through open lanes. With a heavy pass rush on Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the defense forced the young quarterback into two interceptions including one to fellow rookie standout Billy Bowman Jr.
Having a stable pass rush for the first time in years gave an added boost to the defense it desperately needed. Fans knew what the secondary was capable of, but the play of Walker has further solidified their belief in this defense.
As long as Atlanta continues to play to Walker's strengths and get him rushing on the edge, fans should expect this pass rush to only get scarier... not to mention Pearce, Harrison, and Arnold Ebiketie. Walker has already proven to the league that he is an impact player and could be one of the biggest steals in this year's draft.