The Atlanta Falcons did everything they could this offseason to strengthen their defense. There’s no denying that defense was a major weakness last year, and the lack of a consistent pass rush created serious issues for the secondary. With a young core coming in for 2025, it will largely fall on Jessie Bates to mentor the newcomers and help develop their game.
“Bates’ mentorship is crucial for the Falcons, who will likely field a very young defense in 2025. Walker and fellow pass rusher James Pearce Jr. were both first-round picks in April and will likely see a lot of playing time as rookies. The Falcons also drafted Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., a fourth-round pick who played safety in college and will play nickel corner in Atlanta,” ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote.
The most exciting rookie to watch on the defensive side of the ball this year is Jalon Walker. The former Georgia standout made Falcons draft history.
“This is the first time in franchise history that the Falcons have taken a University of Georgia player in the first round,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick.
With Walker’s versatility, new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich appears to have a plan in place.
“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,” Ulbrich said. “Then, from a third-down perspective, we can get creative with him, and that’ll be part of his superpower.”
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General manager Terry Fontenot sees shades of Cowboys star Micah Parsons in Walker.
“The way he plays. The physicality. The toughness. The instincts. It all screams off the tape. … And he’s such a versatile piece that he can play on the edge. He can play stack. He can rush from any area on the field,” Fontenot said.
Walker has a bright future ahead. And if he truly is anything like Parsons, he could become one of the premier pass rushers of this generation.
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