The 2025 NFL Draft is officially underway, and some of the names that were expected to come off the board are still available. That is the beauty of the draft—no one knows what to expect. This was proven when the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to trade up to the second overall pick and select superstar Travis Hunter.
The New Orleans Saints had needs on both defense and at quarterback, but they chose to address neither, opting instead for an offensive tackle. There has been some surprising news so far, including Jalon Walker falling all the way to the No. 15 pick. Walker dropping this far down the board was completely unexpected.
The Atlanta Falcons were able to snag Walker, bringing the Georgia native to Atlanta. This draft choice keeps him in the state and allows him to play somewhere he’s already familiar with. Walker has played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium before with the Bulldogs. On top of that, Walker is a versatile player, lining up all over the field—a dream come true for Raheem Morris.
“Call him an edge rusher. Call him a linebacker. Call him a hybrid of the two. Whatever you call him, just make sure you use the word 'versatile' when describing his play, because that's exactly what it is,” wrote Tori McElhaney.
The Falcons were rumored to possibly take a risk on James Pearce or Walter Nolen, despite the character concerns surrounding both. However, by choosing Walker, Atlanta makes some unique franchise history.
“This is the first time in franchise history that the Falcons have taken a University of Georgia player in the first round,” wrote Daniel Flick.
The Falcons made a power move by selecting Walker, who will be a huge addition in the long run. After losing Matthew Judon and Grady Jarrett, the Falcons knew they needed a pass rusher. It’s safe to say they accomplished that on night one of the NFL Draft.
