Many believed the Panthers would choose Walker with the No. 8 pick, but instead he was drafted by their NFC South rival with the No. 15 pick.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Salisbury native Jalon Walker is sticking in the Peach State after a standout collegiate career with the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Walker, a linebacker, with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday. Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award, which is awarded to the nation’s best linebacker.
Walker recorded 6.5 sacks in 2024 and 10.5 tackles for loss. He was a freshman on the 2022 Georgia Bulldogs team that won the College Football National Championship.
Many people believed the Carolina Panthers would select the Salisbury High School graduate with the No. 8 pick in the draft. Instead, the Panthers selected wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and Walker heads to their NFC South rival.
Walker was the 2021 North Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year and a five-star recruit ahead of his tenure at Georgia.Β
WCNC Charlotte was at Walker’s draft watch party and streamed his live reaction to the selection on the NFL Draft Special on WCNC+.
After the selection, Walker said being chosen in the first round was a blessing.
“I can’t wait to be a Falcon,” Walker said. “I was a nervous wreck [waiting for the pick]… This is something I always dreamed of.”
The Falcons were 23rd in yards allowed per game and points allowed per game in 2024. Jeff Ulbrich is in his first year as defensive coordinator with the Falcons.
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