There was much excitement on Thursday night as Atlanta Falcons fans converged on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium downtown for a 2025 NFL Draft Party.

Fans sat through 14 picks before the Falcons picked former Georgia Bulldog defenseman Jalon Walker. With the 26th pick, the Falcons James Pearce Jr.

With the Falcons, Pearce joins fellow 2025 draftee Jalon Walker to bolster a pass rush that ranked 31st in the NFL with 31 sacks in 2024. His speed and pass-rush toolkit make him an immediate situational rusher with the potential to develop into an every-down player.

Minutes after Walker was drafted, his college coach, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, posted on social media about how proud he was.

Congrats Jalon Walker your dream has finally come true, and we are so grateful to have been a part of it !! Your parents have done an unbelievable job raising you, and I know they are so proud,” Kirby posted on X. “The Atlanta Falcons got a great player and an even better person. You’re a dawg for life. GO DAWGS!!”

A native of Conway, South Carolina, he attended Salisbury High School in North Carolina, where he was named the 2021 North Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year after recording 79 tackles and eight sacks. A five-star recruit and 2022 Under Armour All-American, Walker committed to Georgia over Clemson, North Carolina, and others.

At Georgia, Walker played three seasons (2022–2024). As a true freshman in 2022, he appeared in all 15 games, contributing nine tackles and one sack during Georgia’s National Championship win over TCU. In 2023, as a sophomore, he played in all 14 games, leading the team with five sacks and recording 20 tackles.

In 2024, his junior year, he became a starter, earning the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker and first-team All-American honors from multiple outlets, including Sports Illustrated and ESPN. He finished his college career with 89 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks, notably recording three sacks and seven tackles in a single game against No. 1 Texas.

What Scouts Said About Jalon Walker

Walker’s versatility as both an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, combined with his speed, athleticism, and physicality, made him a standout. Despite limited starting experience (11 starts), his instincts and high motor earned him comparisons to NFL players like Anthony Barr and Reggie Ragland. He declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, where he’s projected as a first-round pick, ranked as high as No. 10 by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Off the field, Walker is a high-character student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA, aspiring to become an orthodontist, and has done voiceover work for SEC Network commercials.

Falcons Pick Pearce After Trading Up From 2nd Round

At Tennessee, Pearce emerged as a premier edge rusher, earning first-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and 2024. As a freshman in 2022, he played all 13 games, recording five tackles and two sacks. His 2023 sophomore season was a breakout, with 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, ranking third and fifth in the SEC, respectively.

In 2024, he started nine of 13 games, leading the team with 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 55 pressures (second in the SEC per PFF). His career totals include 71 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, and 113 quarterback pressures. At the 2025 NFL Combine, Pearce ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash (fastest among edge rushers) with a 1.56-second 10-yard split, showcasing elite speed and athleticism.

What Scouts Said About James Pearce Jr.

Pearce’s strengths include explosive first-step quickness, bend, and a 23% pass-rush win rate in 2024 (second-best in the FBS).

However, he needs to improve run defense and block recognition, as he struggles against pulling linemen and lacks power to consistently defeat blocks. Off-field concerns, including a 2023 arrest for speeding and driving with a suspended license, have raised questions about his maturity, though he’s described himself as a “great teammate” with a “good heart.”