2025 NFL Draft participant profile: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

We’re quickly approaching the 2025 NFL Draft as we are actually simply over per week away from the enjoyable in Inexperienced Bay.

Draft season has been chock filled with daring predictions and enjoyable situations for groups throughout the league however the Jacksonville Jaguars have largely been predictable on the subject of mock drafts.

Pre-free company it was LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell that gave the impression to be the plain selection for the Jags. Nonetheless, the signings of Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey have shifted issues a bit as Michigan defensive sort out Mason Graham has change into almost the consensus prediction throughout media for Jacksonville.

That’s till the final week or in order one other title has emerged as a comparatively shocking, albeit proficient, choice for the Jags and that’s Georgia linebacker, Jalon Walker.

Let’s get to know this new potential Jacksonville prospect by breaking down his sport as we decide his projection and match on this 2025 NFL Draft participant profile.

Measurables

• Top: 6’1”
• Weight: 243
• Arm: 32”
• Hand: 10 1/4”

per NFL Scouting Mix

Profession Statistics

• Tackles: 89
• Tackles for loss: 19
• Sacks: 12.5

Strengths

• Versatile chess piece that may rush off the sting and drop into protection
• Can push the pocket from inside and create stress off the sting
• Explosive athlete in house and when working downhill
• Highly effective participant for his dimension
• Will chase backs down when working outdoors
• Can stack and shed whereas preserving disciplined eyes
• Sifts by means of trash to seek out and assault ball carriers
• Textbook tackler

Weaknesses

• Too small to be a full-time edge, too uncooked to be a full-time linebacker
• Doesn’t have elite bend or flexibility
• Gradual(ish) to key and skim
• Doesn’t have edge rusher arm size
• Tends to float out of his zone in protection when performs are prolonged
• Is a excessive ceiling/low flooring participant which is at all times dangerous

Projection and Match

Jalon Walker’s projection on the subsequent degree is a troublesome one.

Should you like him as principally a cross rusher then you definitely’re banking on the truth that he’s an outlier on the subject of dimension off the sting. The one comparability that I can consider on the subject of a get up edge at his dimension is Haason Reddick, and even then it took him failing off-ball for him to get a shot to show himself as an each down cross rusher.

If he’s not Reddick, then you definitely hope he can present versatility as a strongside backer that may transfer throughout the protection for you, for which he has the flexibility. Walker has apparent chops as a cross rusher and run defender, however he also can play the function of a spy and is competent sufficient in protection to imagine he can develop sufficient there to be a three-down participant.

It’s onerous to know definitively what the protection goes to seem like beneath Anthony Campanile but when that kind of versatility is one thing he’s on the lookout for, then Jalon Walker may completely be in play for the Jacksonville Jaguars with their fifth total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft.

Conclusion

Jalon Walker is likely one of the most polarizing gamers on this years draft class as there appear to be wild swings in opinions of how he tasks to the subsequent degree. Nonetheless, all it takes is one workforce to consider in his talents and the Jacksonville Jaguars very effectively may very well be that workforce.

It’s feeling like we have already got a fairly good thought about what is occurring with the highest 4 groups so in a way, the 2025 NFL Draft begins with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Grade: 8.6

Large Cat Nation NFL Draft Grading Scale

9.5 to 10 – Prime-5 lock. Uncommon attributes each bodily and mentally. Clearly essentially the most proficient participant on the sector in school. Sport-changing/wrecking projection on the subsequent degree. Potential be top-10 at their place immediately.

8.5 to 9.4 – Unquestioned first-round prospect. Elite bodily and psychological profile. Carried out constantly at a excessive degree, irrespective of the competitors in school. Expectations to be a direct affect participant.

7.5 to eight.4 – Combined opinions on first-round projection. Above common bodily profile. Thought-about a terrific participant at respective college however not a family title. Performs admirably towards prime competitors. Potential to be a direct starter on the subsequent degree. 1-2 spherical choose.

6.5 to 7.4 – Day 2 prospect. Good athlete however can’t match up with the league’s greatest. Productive collegiate profession. Expectation to carry out in a rotational function as a rookie. Potential to change into a starter over time.

5.5 to six.4 – Fringe late Day 2/early Day 3 prospect. Admirable athletic profile. Extra potential than completed product. Missing obligatory measurables at their place however have discovered methods to win with out them. Rotational piece with a job on particular groups as effectively.

4.5 to five.4– Day 3 prospect. Both a low ceiling athletically or undersized for his or her place. Potential for pink flag of some kind (exp. Accidents, lack of faculty manufacturing, off-field points and so on.). Nonetheless gives a component of intrigue when projecting to the subsequent degree. Predominately a particular groups participant.

3.5 to 4.4 – Backside half of Day 3 prospect. Underwhelming collegiate profession (or small college product). Has a singular trait that’s price a late spherical swing of the bat. Probability to compete for a roster spot in coaching camp. Uphill battle to make ultimate 53.

2 to three.4 – Precedence free agent signee. Traits price exploring. Camp physique.

1 to 1.9 – Clearly not of NFL high quality. Lacks the mandatory athletic, psychological, and ability ranges to make any contributions within the league.

Different prospects that Dillon has profiled/graded: