Falcons pull off an NFL draft miracle that Georgia Bulldogs fans have been hoping for since 1966
The Atlanta Falcons have finally done the darn thing. Since becoming an NFL franchise in 1966, the Falcons have never used a first-round pick on a Georgia Bulldogs player. That changed on Thursday night when they selected Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons get a […]
The Atlanta Falcons have finally done the darn thing.
Since becoming an NFL franchise in 1966, the Falcons have never used a first-round pick on a Georgia Bulldogs player.
That changed on Thursday night when they selected Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Falcons get a dominant force in Walker, who capped off his junior season at Georgia by winning the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s best linebacker.
In his final year in Athens, Walker logged 58 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries and entered the draft as arguably the best linebacker to come out of the 2025 NFL draft class.
Jalon Walker Scouting Report
Linebacker, Georgia
Hometown: Salisbury, NC
21 years old (02/24/2004)
A to Z Sports Expected Draft Position: 12
Pre-Draft Round Projection: 1
"Jalon Walker is as intriguing as they come. A hybrid player that has shown proficiency at off-ball linebacker and aligned along the EDGE. Wherever he lands, the fit and utilization of Walker will have to be perfect. At 6-1 and 243 pounds, his frame and athleticism suggest an inside linebacker. His actual play style suggests something far more interesting. A blur off the edge with a developed pass rush plan, he's the kind of player that makes offensive tackles start their pass set at a 90-degree angle just so they have enough time to not get run by. But offensive tackles also hate power, and at his size, Walker will never have elite power, even if he's very strong for his frame. At inside LB, he's still a work in progress, with more time on task needed. So Walker could end up being the versatile chess piece that coordinators dream of, or we could have another Isaiah Simmons situation on our hands. – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports NFL Draft analyst
Career Projection: Boom Bust Starter Potential
Kirby Smart and Georgia Bulldogs get 5-star OT to delay commitment
Smart gets the last word.
