2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalon Walker (LB – Georgia)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalon Walker

Jalon Walker (LB – Georgia)

6-foot-2 | 245 Pounds

Background

A four-star recruit who rotated into the defense in a reserve capacity for his first two seasons, Jalon Walker finished with 9-2.0-1.0 in 2022 and 20-6.0-5.0 in 2023 before taking over a starting role this year. Split his time between playing as an EDGE and more of a traditional linebacker, ending the regular season with 57-11.0-6.5 and taking home the Butkus award.

Positives

Stepped right into a starting role in the SEC this season and came home with the Butkus Award. Was used as a movable chess piece with diverse responsibilities, and handled them well. Physical tone-setter with thudding power; teams are going to love what Walker brings on a snap-to-snap basis. Shows good discipline and a strong motor in run support. Attacks blocks with urgency to set the edge. Contact balance is solid. Has impressive instincts and is seemingly always around the ball. Reliable open-field tackler with impressive closing burst and plenty of stopping power.

Walker has explosive movement skills to threaten the edge with speed and drew attention from opposing blockers even while playing across from another highly-regarded EDGE rusher in Mykel Williams. Relentless bull-rusher who can grind down tackles over time; pure intensity makes him a handful. Rushes with a low center of gravity. Active with his hands. Shows good lateral quickness and footwork to slide into lanes. Closes well when he finds a lane.

The Georgia linebacker is also an effective A-gap blitzer and stunt executor. Handled extensive coverage responsibilities, not limited to spot drops, but also included in man coverage schemes on backs, tight ends and even receivers. Shows good awareness when working in zone or pattern-matching. Can also spy the quarterback, showing good discipline.

Negatives

His frame appears close to being maxed out and his overall length may be a bit less than some teams are looking for. Very powerful pound-for-pound when playing aggressively, but can sometimes struggle to absorb power as a read-and-react defender. Sack/pressure totals seem a little bit inflated; saw some coverage sacks and schemed pressures/hits at times.

Relies heavily on his overall explosiveness, power and intensity, and still needs time to continue developing his repertoire of rush moves and counters. The responsibilities he was given in coverage are more impressive than the results; might struggle to match up regularly in man coverage at the pro level.

Summary

A compact, explosive, powerful and intense front-seven defender who was asked to handle a lot of different responsibilities as a first-year starter and did an admirable job, establishing himself as an impact player for the Bulldogs. It’ll be interesting to see how different teams view his role at the next level; while Walker could likely succeed as either a linebacker or EDGE defender, the latter might be a better overall fit, as he is at his best when he’s allowed to play aggressive, attacking football, using his leverage and strength.

Looks like a solid candidate for the first round either way, even in a class that is deep up front. Should be able to step right in and improve a team’s on-field culture.

Projection: Round 1

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