FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Jalon Walker was getting a ride to Charlotte, North Carolina, late Thursday night from his home in Salisbury, N.C. He was scheduled to fly to the Atlanta Falcons ' facility the next morning on the team's private jet. Little did he know, he would have company.

Atlanta received a B grade from Bleacher Report after taking Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker and Tennessee edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. in the first round and following up with Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr. and Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson.

The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2025 NFL Draft needing pass-rushing help, as per usual. They addressed that need right away at No. 15 overall, stopping the slide of Georgia's Jalon Walker. That wasn't enough for general manager Terry Fontenot,