For the eighth straight season, Georgia has a first-round draft pick. And this one won’t even have to leave the state.
With the 15th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Atlanta Falcons selected former Georgia defender Jalon Walker.
Walker becomes the 50th all-time first-round pick in Georgia football history, and the 19th since coach Kirby Smart took over the program. Walker’s selection also marks the 12th first-rounder for the Bulldogs in just the last 4 drafts. Walker joins teammate Mykel Williams to give the Bulldogs multiple first-round selections in 4 consecutive drafts.
As a junior in 2024, Walker was a first-team All-American selection by the AFCA and earned the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. He made 11 starts while appearing in all 14 games for the SEC champs. Walker had a career year, posting 60 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and 2 pass breakups.
In 43 career appearances for Georgia, Walker posted 89 tackles, 18 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick.
Walker was a force for Georgia in some of its biggest games. He opened the year with 1.5 sacks against Clemson on Aug. 31. He had 3 sacks in the regular-season win at Texas on Oct. 19, showing up huge in a spot where everyone was questioning the Dawgs. Then he had another sack to go with 3 TFLs against Texas in the SEC Championship.
In each of his 3 years with Georgia, Walker improved his production despite playing in a limited capacity and lining up all over the field. Last fall, he played a hybrid linebacker role, splitting snaps between inside ‘backer, outside ‘backer, and edge.
As is usually the case with Georgia draft picks on the defensive side of the ball, a bulk of the appeal with Walker during the predraft process was his potential. He was only a 1-year starter for Smart, sitting behind NFL talent early in his career. But Walker’s upside as an explosive pass-rusher with tremendous positional versatility made him a first-round lock.
NFL Draft 2025: Former Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker picked No. 15 overall in Round 1 Saturday Down South.
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