On draft day, one of the lingering questions surrounding the draft was “Who was going to be the Jalon Walker team?” There were talks of the 6’2”, 245-pound linebacker going as high as #4 overall to the New England Patriots. Even the most bullish of Atlanta Falcons fans were wary that the superstar out of the University of Georgia would be able to stay in the state.
Then, the draft happened.
Okay, New England took Will Campbell, but there’s no way he’s getting past Carolina...Okay, Carolina took Tetairoa
McMillan, but the Saints could use a pass rusher...Okay, but there’s no way the Chicago Bears pass on a talent like Walker...
As the draft continued, and teams continued to pass on Walker, hope continued to rise, until the moment finally came:
With the 15th pick in the @NFL Draft, we've selected Jalon Walker!#NFLDraft: NFL, ABC, ESPN pic.twitter.com/wOXjGiBMJa
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 25, 2025
Walker is staying home.
And now, Falcons fans get to control one of the top-five rookies in the NFL on their favorite team.
EA Sports dropped the Madden 25 rookie ratings, and Atlanta’s new defensive weapon got his flowers: a 79 overall, tied for fifth with New England’s first-rounder, left tackle Will Campbell.
The rookies are ready to make some noise!
— Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 30, 2025
Your official Top 10 list #Madden26Ratings pic.twitter.com/A8ZlUYRELI
With all the buzz around James Pearce Jr.’s aggression, it’s easy to forget who the first defensive player off the board really was.
While Walker is currently nursing something, which Raheem Morris insists is “not a serious issue,” he’s still sitting second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds behind Abdul Carter, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
The Bulldogs' star came into the league with elite burst, range, and versatility—and now, Falcons fans can unleash that same explosiveness in their Madden franchises.
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