Falcons Take Georgia LB Jalon Walker And Vols Edge Rusher James Pearce in the First Round

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons stayed in state and addressed their need for pass rush help by selecting Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker with the No. 15 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker. He is viewed as a player with the potential to play a hybrid role in the NFL as a linebacker and edge rusher.

At 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds, there are questions if Walker has sufficient size to flourish as a pass rusher against NFL offensive tackles. He had 61 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks for Georgia in 2024.

Then the Falcons acquired the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft from the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night and used the pick to select Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr.

The Falcons sent the Rams their 2026 first-round pick as well as second-round and seventh-round selections in this year’s draft. The Falcons also obtained a third-round selection from the Rams in this year’s draft.

The picks in this year’s draft acquired by the Rams are No. 46 overall in the second round and No. 242 in the seventh round.

Atlanta had previously addressed their pass rush in free agency. Atlanta signed Leonard Floyd, another former Georgia player, to a one-year, $10 million deal after finishing next to last in the league with 31 sacks in 2024. Floyd, 32, had 8 1/2 sacks for San Francisco last season.

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