The Atlanta Falcons doubled down on their commitment to boosting their pass rush by selecting Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker with the No. 15 overall pick and then trading with the Los Angeles Rams to add Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. later in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.
Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker. He is viewed as a player with the potential to play a hybrid role in the NFL as a linebacker and edge rusher.
Pearce (6-5, 245) ran the 40-yard dash at 4.47 seconds to rank as the fastest defensive lineman at the NFL scouting combine.
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