Falcons double down on defense, draft Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in first round

By 680 The Fan Staff

ATLANTA —The Atlanta Falcons invested heavily in their pass rush on Thursday night, selecting a pair of edge defenders in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

With the No. 15 overall pick, the Falcons selected Georgia EDGE Jalon Walker. Later in the night, Atlanta traded up with the Los Angeles Rams to select Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26 overall, doubling down on a defensive front that struggled to generate pressure in 2024.

To move up, the Falcons sent the No. 46 pick (second round), No. 242 (seventh round), and a 2026 first-round pick to the Rams in exchange for picks No. 26 and No. 101.

Walker becomes the first player from the University of Georgia drafted by the Falcons in the first or second round since the team’s inaugural draft in 1966.

“He’s a Micah Parsons type of player,” former Alabama head coach and ESPN analyst Nick Saban said during the telecast. “Violent, relentless rusher. Ithink this guy is going to be an outstanding player in Atlanta.”

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah praised Walker as a “compact, powerful defender with length and explosiveness.” Jeremiah noted that while Walker played both on and off the ball in Georgia’s scheme, he was at his best off the edge, where he could win with “pure speed, power, and an explosive counter move.” He also called Walker “a tone-setter on defense,” with Georgia coaches raving about his leadership and makeup.

Pearce, the Falcons’ second first-rounder, brings a different but equally dynamic skill set.

Jeremiah called him “a long, lean edge rusher” who created havoc from multiple alignments in Tennessee’s scheme. Known for his explosive first step and rare bend, Pearce also demonstrated surprising strength and power despite his frame. “His pressure rate stands out among his peers in this class,” Jeremiah said. “Overall, Pearce has double-digit sack potential and should make an immediate impact in the league.”

The picks were announced from Green Bay, Wisconsin, the host city for this year’s draft. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot entered the night focused on reshaping the identity of the defense after selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round a year ago.