The Kansas City Chiefs must come away from the 2025 NFL Draft with cost-effective linebacker play and an explosive pass rusher. Georgia Bulldogs star Jalon Walker provides both.
Georgia began cross-training Walker at linebacker in 2023 but placed a larger emphasis on developing his multi-positional versatility this past offseason.
Walker primarily contributed to the Bulldogs as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in his first two seasons before beginning to play more of an off-ball role. His instincts as a linebacker are still raw, but he possesses all of the physical tools to grow into the position.
Walker is undersized for an edge rusher, which contributed to Georgia’s decision to bump him off the line of scrimmage. However, the Bulldogs still give him plenty of snaps at outside linebacker. According to Pro Football Focus, Walker led Georgia in pressures against Kentucky in Week 3 and tied for the lead against Clemson in Week 1.
If you need a SAM/DPR at the next level in the mid-rounds, Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker is your guy. A bit of a tweener, Walker has some size constraints but is an absolute sawed-off shotgun on the field.
He had an absolute field day against Kentucky: 8 pressures, 3 QB hits, 5… pic.twitter.com/xVJHoRTonh
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) September 17, 2024
Walker explodes off the line of scrimmage and has the quick footwork to blow past offensive tackles on the outside arc or counter inside the access the B-gap. He lacks elite arm length but possesses some knockback power in his hands.
Walker’s arsenal of pass rush moves includes club-swims, cross-chops, long-arms, rips, spins, swims and several counter moves. He uses his impressive bend to turn the corner on offensive tackles and flatten his rush angle to the quarterback.
As an off-ball linebacker, Walker’s speed and effort in pursuit make him a natural quarterback spy. He has the burst and range to carry running backs downfield and handle some tough assignments. Against Missouri in 2023, Walker bailed from his spot on the line of scrimmage and stayed even with the slot receiver on a downfield route. Defensive coordinators covet that type of range and versatility.
Georgia travels to Bryant-Denny Stadium to face Alabama in an SEC showdown on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Both programs enter Week 4 of the season as top-five teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.